Brad!
hey Darren, I am not a expert on clams but your 2 degree heat spike doesent sit well with me.. I have seen on the island here that water temps can change by 20 degrees with the tide, whare we go camping the water is at about 78 degrees for about 2 hours after the tide comes in. now I can't say that the temps DIDN'T kill your clams but I think it is highly unlikely. my reasoning for this is that there are reports all over the US of clams dieing (and of distrubters losing up to 200 in one shot) also if you ask LFS on the island here 3 different ones have said there is a bacterial in the clams right now and no one will bring them in..
also there has been proof of this sickness
"This problem is caused by a bacterial infection. Two years ago it was isolated by a lab in Florida to by a bacterial in Vibrio strain (gram-negative). Vibrio bacteria cause a number of human ailments including cholera and acute bacterial diarrhea. More specific pathology for the exact bacteria causing harm to our clams will be available for the San Francisco area outbreak later this week as some dying clams have been sent into a pathology lab specializing in marine organisms. This bacterial problem in ornamental reef clams is not new. It (or something very similar) happened about two years ago too.
As it turns out, Sprung and Delbeck are recommended the tetracycline family of antibiotics for this problem. I just happened to have something on hand, so after I lost 2 of my 3 clams to this problem, I tried an antibiotic from the tetracycline family called minocycline. My last clam, which just yesterday was showing gaping and the classic mucus, seems fine today living in a bath of antibiotics. Treatment was given at 100 mg minocycline per 5 gallons (I read this is close to the common dosage for fish). After 24-48 hours, the water should be replaced in the bucket and treated again at the same dosage for two more days. After that the clam should be returned to a tank separate from the one it caught the disease. In several months, the clam might be able to be returned to the main tank, but the amount of time to wait is anyone's best guess. I AM BASING THIS ROUTINE ON WHAT I'VE READ ONLY! It is NOT proven yet to me personally!
Of the tetracyclines, Delbeck recommends doxycycline in particular probably because of its relatively low affinity to calcium (good in a high-calcium organism). Where does one get that stuff without holding your local doctor hostage? The answer was found about as far from my mind as possible as I set out on the search.
The answer is in racing pigeon care. Racing pigeons are sometimes given a doxycycline solution to prevent respiratory infection after coming home from a race. The concentration of such a solution is, I have read, 500 to 1000 mg/gallon of water. This is 20 to 40 times the strength recommended by fish experts in treating fish bacterial infections. That might be expected too as saltwater organisms are constantly processing water since they have to counter the osmotic pressure that forces them to dehydrate all the time.
I found a place in Savannah, Georgia called Global Pigeon Supplies that sells enough to treat 400 to 800 gallons of saltwater (depending on what concentration they are using for the pigeons) for $22.95 + $7 shipping. Since I ordered today and had it sent to my work, I'll probably get it on Wednesday. "
I don't have a clam so you might say why do I care about this.. the answer is because I want a clam :D this same thing happend 2 years ago
Also we have both Steve Tyree and Charles Delbeek calling it a bacterial infection.. I just don't see why you won't beleive it..
after all is sed and done it is not the fault of the LFS and shouldent bear on there reputation(if that is what you are trying to protect) but rather the fault of a importer, who people are scared to name due to law suits, that brought a shipment in from Ponape..
now I don't want to start a Pi$$ing match but I don't see how you can go with your heat theory with all the evadence.. but I will put forth something for you to chew on.. do you know of anyone who has lost clams that haven't 1, putchased a clam laitly or 2, purchased something from a clam tank and maby got a bit of the water in there tank ( as this bacteria can be transported by water).
Steve
Then again I might not have any clue what I am talking about either :D : D
[ 27 July 2002, 21:20: Message edited by: StirCrazy ]
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