Clam help!!!!!

[BlackMoor]

I have 2 clams in my 54 Gallon corner a crocea and a squamosa. I have had the crocea for a long time. It used to be at the mid point of my tank. One day a few months back it released itself from the rock it came on. It never re attached itself as there was kind of a valley in the LR it was nearest. About 3 weeks ago I placed it on a perch a little higher in my tank I noticed today that it is not really open. What do I do??? I really like these things. I am running a Coralife compact fluorescent with actinic and it has been happy all this time at the lower elevation.... help!!

 

[sillysidewinder]

So then put it back down to the lower elevation it was at before... Why don't you put a small, maybe flatter type rock underneath it rather than in a crevice?

 

[BlackMoor]

Yup, I did that actually. It did not close when I picked it up though. It was OK yesterday, I do not think it is dead and I'm not due for a PWC.

 

[Zuska]

put in on the sand bed... if it doesnt close when your hand goes over the light it might be sick for sure... i would leave it on the sand bed... how is your other clam?

 

[e.muehlbauer]

My crocea's do fine on the sandbed, and

i use pc's.

 

[BlackMoor]

doing much worse today.... more shriveled up and a little paler for sure. What am I checking for? Will be performing a water change tonight I guess.

 

[fishman1069]

How old are your bulbs? PC isnt the best lighting for clams to begin with, forget about once they get old. You lose alot of intensity in a pc bulb after 6 months of usage!

 

[Awibrandy]

how old are your bulbs? Pc isnt the best lighting for clams to begin with, forget about once they get old. You lose alot of intensity in a pc bulb after 6 months of usage!

ditto

 

[BlackMoor]

Bulbs are about 6 months old. The Squamosa is fine and at an even lower elevation. Crocea looks bad, I'm performing a water change just because and will purchase new bulbs/or LED tomorrow but, should I keep the Crocea in the tank? How do I know it's not dead?

 

[BlackMoor]

OK, clam is dead.... just took it out for inspection and NOTHING was left, just tatters of flesh. Disintegrated. What happened??? Everything else in the tank including the squamosa is fine. I'm pretty sure I do not have any mantis shrimp either. I don't get it.

 

[Awibrandy]

Sorry you lost your clam.
BlackMoor, sometimes these things happen! I lost a couple of clams with no indication that anything was wrong. Of 4 that I started out with I have 1 left which I've had for over 3 years. The reason you found the shell almost empty is that your scavengers went to work on it.