Whats wrong with my Clams?

[christyf5]

Originally Posted by zoaElite

No coincidence here, pinched mantle is though to be brought on by a protozoan similar to Perkinsus olseni .

And since you don't do water changes, you've created quite a little breeding factory/protozoan soup. Just one or both may have been infected originally but once one got going, the second was surely to get infected.

Don't be fooled by the clam looking better after the first dip, you'll likely have to do several FW dips over the coming weeks.

[MarkoD]

Originally Posted by christyf5

And since you don't do water changes, you've created quite a little breeding factory/protozoan soup. Just one or both may have been infected originally but once one got going, the second was surely to get infected.

Don't be fooled by the clam looking better after the first dip, you'll likely have to do several FW dips over the coming weeks.

should i start now. or give it an hour to see how it responds further?

i also just dosed marine snow to see if it would stimulate them further

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by MarkoD

i also just dosed marine snow to see if it would stimulate them further

huh?? That's not going to do anything. Dip them, it does no harm and does lots of good if we're right.

[MarkoD]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

huh?? That's not going to do anything. Dip them, it does no harm and does lots of good if we're right.

doesnt do harm? i just read that it could stress the clam further if it doesnt have pinched mantle.

yes i've also read that in the wild clams can be exposed to rain at low tide for hours and they survive.

im just waiting for the temp of the freshwater to match, and ill try it out with one of them

[Aquattro]

I've dipped plenty of clams and they all did fine. Leaving a parasite on them will certainly cause more stress. At this point, your clams look like they're going to die. You've got lots of ideas from everyone here, so pick one and do it.

[Reefie]

Another thing you can try:

Cut the top off a 2l clear soda bottle and drill a bunch of small holes in it so water can flow but fish cant get to the clam. Place it over the clam and see what happens.

It may help you determine if indeed it's a nipping problem that you have.

[MarkoD]

Originally Posted by Reefie

Another thing you can try:

Cut the top off a 2l clear soda bottle and drill a bunch of small holes in it so water can flow but fish cant get to the clam. Place it over the clam and see what happens.

It may help you determine if indeed it's a nipping problem that you have.

i think i've solved the problem. both clams have fully opened and neither of them is gaping.