I finally got up the courage to give the first one a freshwater bath. Looks good after day 2 and no more pinched mantle. :biggrin:

Now I have to figure out how to remove the larger from the big rock its attached to.

Does the other clam also have PM? Bummer.

I'm not sure what I would do. Is there anything attached to the rock (other than the clam that is) that you don't want to lose? I suppose that would do a number on the coraline ... but it will come back eventually.

What about chiseling part of the rock off? I know it sucks, but ... the clam is worth it, right? ;)

I don't know anything about cutting byssal glands. I suppose the clams we buy at the stores have been cut off something, and they eventually regrow, but ...... I dunno, the thought about cutting the clam off the rock gives me the heebie jeebies (I wouldn't do it if it were me)..

This is what I found in the forum at clamsdirect:

"If the clam is firmly attached the only thing you can do is try to get the clam to let go.

To do that you can either:
stand and gently sway the clam back and forth, not stretching the threads, but rocking it back and forth and it will let go. this may take a while..

use an ice cube held against the threads and let the clam detach.

use a super clean, sharp razor blade and cut the threads as far from the gland as possible."

That particular rock is about a ft. sq. Tony. May be a little hard. I bugged it all morning during my water change and some tank work. Finally got it to let go. Seems to be no foot left on the rock, so I aasume it basically let go. Easier that its a derasa, I would think.

So into the pot it went, along with my crocea, still attached to its rock whcih is about fist size. Both are out and back in the tank and looking ok so far.

So its now the next day and all three look fine so far. The crocea was not even bothered by it. Open the instant it was back in saltwater. The derasa,s seemed to more upset. All the mantles look fine as of this morning with no pinching or receding.

Well that never worked worth a hoot. All 3 clams are infected again. Stringy snot coming from the pinched mantle portion. Same places as before the freshwater bath.

So, in they went again tonight, for another 1/2hr. Poor clams. :cry: Back in the tank and looking ok, for what they went through. The crocea seems to not even be bothered by the freshwater.

I read a bunch on Barry,s forum, regarding excessive iron from phosphate removers and pinched mantle. So out comes the Phosban, :sad: , in goes extra carbon. Wish I had some Poly Filters or Chemi-Pure.

I'm sorry to hear that Doug. I hope it works out for you this time around.

Any photos?

I will take some pics of the stringy substance if it persists. I did see some last night after placing the clams back in the tank. If its being caused by the iron from a phophate remover, then it may take some time to remove it.

FWIW, I never had any success with FW dips for pinched mantle either. Its so hard to treat when the clam is closed up tight as a drum while in the treatment bath.

Good luck! :biggrin:

Clams are looking good with no sign of pinched mantle. Cant say if it was the 2nd. dip or the elimination of my iron based phosphate remover. Or both. FWIW, there was still some stringy attachments after the dip but they have since left. Makes me think the removal of the phophate product and running extra carbon has helped.

Now what to do about phosphates? I may add some later and see if that does indeed cause pinched mantle but hate to put my clams through anymore.