[jimw369]

Bought a small Maxima last week. Looked fine all week open and closed all the time. Color was good. Today when I got home it was discolored, shriveled, wide open and dead.
Water checked out good. Calcium a little low at 380 but working on it a little at a time. Had the clam 2 thirds up in the tank on top of a rock, medium flow, T5 HO 14K bulbs.
Set it on a flat piece of rubble rock out of the refugium. Snails knocked it to the bottom of the tank at least 3 times. Could this hurt it? Tank is only 50 days old is it too early? 1 Hippo Tang and about 15 corals all seem to be doing great. Everything growing, no ich.
Would micro bubbles hurt a clam? I have a powerhead act up on me that was shooting a bunch out this week. Any thoughts? I dont want to get another one unless I feel everything is good. Thanks

[jimw369]

Trying to do some more research on clams.

Color: The Maxima Clam Colored has a green, blue, purple, gold color.
Size: The Maxima Clam Colored may grow to 20 inches.
Diet: Planktivore.
Feeding: It likes to eat Phytoplankton.
Behavior: The Tridacna maxima is generally peaceful toward other tankmates.
Care: Many consider the Tridacna maxima a high-maintenance specimen. Not venomous.
Lighting: Has strong lighting needs.Symbiotic algae zooxanthellae are hosted within this organism.
Water flow: The requires strong water flow.
General notes: The Maxima Clam is often referred to as the Holy Grail of reef aquariums. It is probably the most difficult to maintain of the Tridacna species due to it's requirement of intense halide lighting and a very stable and seasoned tank, these jewels of the sea are best kept on your rockwork but will do fine in sandy substrate. Can tolerate high water current. Best kept in well established aquarium. Does not appreciate high current. Can be nipped and harassed by clown gobies, blennies, shrimp, and most Angelfish and Butterfly fish.
Water parameters: Keep water quality high (SG 1.023 - 1.025, pH 8.1 - 8.4, Temp. 72 - 78° F).
Origin: The Maxima Clam Colored is commonly collected from Oceania

It says "requires strong flow" then says "does not appreciate high current".

Of course if the rest is true, I broke some of the rules.

[jimw369]

Upon some more reading and closer examination of this little clam, I have come to the conclusion, I starved it to death. S{"?T! That reall pi;?/es me off. Good night

[RyanG]

Most clams need heavy photoplankton feedings at least once a day if not every two days. I bought a maxima and it "completely disappeared" within 2 days of me getting it. Still haven't figured out what got it.

[jimw369]

Got a flame scallop 3 weeks ago and started dosing phytoplankton ever other day in the am. I turn my skimmer off till I return usually late afternoon. I then check out the tank and do testing. If all seems well I leave the skimmer off till around 8 pm when the lights go out then I turn it on. Water params seem good, scallop was moving around very little(didnt move for 2 weeks) figured clams a clam. Got the Maxima and started dosing plankton everyday and still kept the skimmer running part time. No red algae was showing up and tank seemed fine. I did start carbon up last sunday but all tests say no problem. Tank is "looking" as good as it ever has with clear water, getting rid of most detritus laying around and purple starting to show up better. My calcium has been a liitle low and I started bringing that up slowly this week. This eve 390. I did raise my magnesium last week from 1200 to 1220 and my kh to 9. Ph is 8.2-8.4 I did change the lighting it was under from MH to T5ho. Im sure a little clam might be more susceptable to things like that.
Ahhh..It all boils down to Im pushing it too fast. Ill give it a couple of months and try again.
Things will probably be better then.

Thanks for the response Ryan.

[CyberJester]

Very sorry to hear about your clam, keep your chin up. Things are always darkest before the dawn.

[glampka]

Jim,
Sorry to hear about the clam. How are you handling all this grief? First the TB, now this.

[jimw369]

Yes it was tough last week. Lost a Hawkfish too. Only lasted 3 days. Never was right from the get go. Should have taken him back to the lfs the next day. Always gasping and never ate.

This hobby is sure teaching me there are no shortcuts and a lot about patience. Unless you are rich, you have no choice but to learn and accept these things. Some very good lessons about life being learned here.

[jimw369]

One more thing. I have been to 4 lfs since my clam died. Have not bought a thing. I think maybe Im understanding things a little better now. All of us already know how to buy critters. Only some of us know how to take care of them. And that my friends is why so many drop from the hobby after a short while. IMHO

[glampka]

Ah, you have seen the eternal light!! You have now mastered what so few who have travelled before you could. Go forth & spread the word to all who will listen.

[Ladydi919]

Jim....words well spoken. I like KrazyK's note at the bottom of his "handle" basically it says research before you purchase. Great advise for us all.

[Six-line Wrasse]

Small tridacnid clams of any type typically require regular feedings at least twice to three times a day. Juveniles often do not have larger enough populations of zooanthellae in their mantles to synthesis enough food.

Always buy clams larger than 3" unless you're positive it is not a juvenile.

[Krazy]

Originally Posted by Ladydi919

Jim....words well spoken. I like KrazyK's note at the bottom of his "handle" basically it says research before you purchase. Great advise for us all.

In this hobby, it pays off to research things before buying, I hate losing $$$ and I hate having a living thing die even more...

we all learn the hard way a few times before it sets in though !!


ahhh...

what a hobby