Looking for a clam expert

Anyone here a clam expert

No expert but I've done a little research because I want one. Problem with a clam you already have?

I have killed 2 clams. So I can tell what the dying signs are. Not sure if that makes me anything

I have a litte crocea clam 3 in. He has white spots on his mantle. I here this is bad and his mantle will not open way out like befor> i picked im up about 4 weeks ago. My ca is 360 and dKH is 11. I do not add iodide think i need to. All my other test are good. I do spot feed him with reef chili and dose with seachem reef calcium. Tho i have to put alot of the reef cal inoder to raise the cal. I just think he is dieing this is a pic when he looked good

Calcium is pretty low for a clam, I would try to bump it up to 400. I forget what kind of lighting you are running, crocea's require a lot of light. Looks like it's up on the rocks anyways which is good. I wouldn't add iodine unless you are testing for it. Feeding really doesn't matter to clams, light and water quality is the biggies. Is it gaping or anything? How long has it been looking bad?

About 2 weeks now he's been looking bad. He has some white spots on him. This is what's making me upset. I have T5 HO 6x 54w lights nova extreme pro. I have him on rock up as high as i can get him. I do not test for iodine. He did gape bad about a week ago but now its just a small slit. I will try to up my calcium it's getting harder now with all the coral's im getting. Hell he may be fine its just me lol This is my frist clam

White spots can be a sign of Lack of zooxanthellae, zooxanthellae is located within the zooxanthal tubules that extends from the stomach to there mantles. clams do not store there zooxanthellae in individual cells like corals do so if there zooxanthellae is not producing in a rate to subtain there needs area's of the Mantle can suffer and turn white and slowly can kill your clam.
although they filter feed to from Dissolved organic compounds from the water, Isochrysis is a Brown/golden Macro algae and it protains Gluccose which is one of the compounds zooxzanthellae produces which will benefit clams and yeast in proper doses is benifical to clams to but should be used wisely because will promote Algae growth too.
good lighting is pretty much your safest nutrient though for your clams.

Update i moved my litte clam down about 5 in and he is looking alot better. some white spots but not as bad.

Talk about a 180 my litte clam past away lastnight

Sorry to hear.
Hippopus are one of your easiest clams to raise.
But I tell you what My Derasa grows like a weed under my 14k- 250 watt,

He was only 2 in long (last one i get of that size) my 5in Crocea Clam is looking good.

Yeah the problem with your smaller clams is they depend more on nutrition in the water then photosynthetic there zooxanthellae need lighting to survive and grow, your smaller clam will benifit from very much but your smaller clams have a much thinner mantle and can easily get burned if the light is to intense.

Bummer!!! I really really want a clam once my big tank is up and running but am so scared hearing how so many just up and die. I still can't even decide what kind of clam though. At least your larger one is doing well, the smaller ones do seem to be less likely to make it.

icereefer wrote:Yeah the problem with your smaller clams is they depend more on nutrition in the water then photosynthetic there zooxanthellae need lighting to survive and grow, your smaller clam will benifit from very much but your smaller clams have a much thinner mantle and can easily get burned if the light is to intense.

I think i burned him up i had him up top in the tank look at the pic where the big clam is. I had the litte guy that high to

GoingPostal wrote:Bummer!!! I really really want a clam once my big tank is up and running but am so scared hearing how so many just up and die. I still can't even decide what kind of clam though. At least your larger one is doing well, the smaller ones do seem to be less likely to make it.

You take more of a chance on your 2" or smaller Clams but in good stable water conditions feeding Isochrysis Micro algea and keep them on a lower level if your running higher lighting,I've had good luck with them, Mostly your squamosa and Derasa. Even though your Crocea is pretty much a light hog because most have a blue pigmentation the blue pigment acts as a filter and are usually found in more shallower waters your browner colored clams fair much better in lower lighting. but even though there mantles are blue in color the mantels on your smaller clams can't filter the light like a bigger thicker manteled clam will.
just remember if the clam has good Mantel extention this will mean it's usually happy if the mantle is not fully extended more then likely it's a to high of light issue or parisite or parasitic snails.

i feed dts phyto to my clams and they seem to always be happy.. what type of lighting did you have over the clam? I'm just surprised it died on you.

I run T5 6x54w nova extreme pro

huh, well that is unfortunate.