The past couple of days I’‘ve noticed my maxima has a hermit on it. It appears that the past 2 days has brought 2 different crabs to it. They were on its mantle. I’‘m not sure if they were chewing or harming the clam, but I did see a tiny notch in the mantle. I got the maxima at the frag swap and didn’‘t notice the notch, but it could’‘ve already been there. Should I get the crabs out? I’‘ve been reading up on it and there’'s a lot of mention of hermits eating clams and that they were probably dieing anyway. My clam appears to be in good health and is eating.
My opinion, I’'d get those crabs out. Nothing should be on the clams at all, it irritate them. It may be trying to eat the clam, you never know.
Also, what you mean eating? what are you feeding them? I never feed my clams. They have zoox that feeds the clams it self.
By eating, I mean that it’‘s mouth will open slightly and then it will close its shell. My derasa does the same thing. The derasa I’‘ve had for 4 or 5 months and it’‘s grown about twice it’'s size. I assumed it was filter feeding.
Patrick, i dont know much about clam pests or predators so cant comment on the crab. but it problably just found a nice place to hang out in the shade. i have read that clam spat and baby clams initially get more energy input from filter feeding, but as they and their mantle grow, they get most of their energy from photosythesis of their zooxanthalae. but both the clam and their algae have to breath and exchange gasses and waste, and draw in carbon in various forms and trace minerals. so they constantly pump water through themselves. and they can eat some of what they suck in with the water. real basic digestive system. phytoplankon and such. good light and decent water flow help them the most. i guess.
I pulled the 2 hermits out of the tank that were picking on the maxima. Clam seems fine and haven’'t seen any other crabs bothering it.
[quote=“patrickmacbride, post:5, topic:7366”]
I pulled the 2 hermits out of the tank that were picking on the maxima. Clam seems fine and haven’’’'t seen any other crabs bothering it.[/quote]
Good thing.
I spoke too soon. After monitoring the maxima for days, I thought everything was ok. I had noticed it was on its side, but after reading up on that I determined he was just positioning for the best flow. I came home to an empty shell. He must’ve been sick and that’s why the hermits were on him a few days ago. They knew something was wrong and unfortunately I didn’t. Not sure what else I could’ve done as I’m not setup with a QT. Any ideas on what to do if my other clam starts behaving oddly?
Our resident clam expert Billrob says fresh water dips does wonders for ailing clams
[quote=“Hudzon, post:8, topic:7366”]
Our resident clam expert Billrob says fresh water dips does wonders for ailing clams[/quote]
Thanks Hudzon. Hopefully I’ll never need to do it, but I’ll definitely remember that tip.
Who did you get your clam from ? Doctor Mac ?
I got a green with orange markings from him @ the swap and it seems to be doing fine.
It was the guy from Cleveland at the swap. I can’t remember the name of his shop.
It was called ideal aquatics. I also got a clam from him and it is doing great.
Maybe my lighting isn’t enough. I currently only have 1 kessil A350w on the tank. My Lumentek 180 can’t come fast enough.