Piinched Mantle?

[giambi4343]

i am not familiar with pinched mantle and i just want to make sure that my new clam doesnt have it.

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here is a picture of the other side of my maxima clam

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[virginiadiver69]

Looks healthy to me. I love squamosas.

[giambi4343]

this is my maxima. i have a squammy also in my tank too

[michika]

These look like they were taken in darkness, or is it just the flash? Does the mantle extend any fuller or is the second pic an accurate representation of how its usually extended?

[unbreakable]

The maxima doesnt look bad. Are you running GFO?

[giambi4343]

its dark because of the flash. what is GFO? the second pic is pretty much how much the mantle extends.

[michika]

GFO = Granular Feric Oxide, also known as Phosban, Phoslock, etc.

Honestly its hard to tell with your clam. Small clams don't extend as much as larger clams, and I find this is particularly true in squamosas, and maximas. Although my first impression was that its not fully extended, and that there may be a section that is "pinched", however by "pinched" I mean its an area that is less extended not as in pinched mantle.

How long have you had the clam? How large is it? Did the mantle retract when you took photos? Can you take some without a flash?

Anyways the point I'm trying to make here is that it doesn't looked like PM from what you've posted. Do watch your clam though for the next few days and if that portion still doesn't extend then maybe it might be time to reconsider PM. I've had clams that retract/extend unevenly before, and it turned out to be just a quirk. Definitely watch your clam though, take more photos for before and after comparisons.

[giambi4343]

i have hadf him only a few days now. he is about 2 inches big. the mantle is always retracting and extending because of the fish swimming over it,

[AquamanE]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14370491#post14370491 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by unbreakable
The maxima doesnt look bad. Are you running GFO?

Is running GFO with clams a problem?

[giambi4343]

he is now closed today for the first time. is this normal for a clam to be closed for a day?

[michika]

No, not really. Have you recently moved the clam? If you haven't then something may not be right. Although you did mention that it is quite new to your system, and that it was reacting to fish swimming overhead, which is normal. New clams always seem touchier.

Since your clam looks like its on the substrate now would probably be the time to look at the foot for any damage, or preditors. You'll want to be looking for Pyramid snails, or Cymatium snails (google for photos). Bristleworms can sometimes get in the clam through the byssal opening as well.

In regards to the GFO question I've heard it go both ways. Some people say they've seen negative responses in their clams when running, and others say nothing happened. In my tank when I ran it, my clams were fine, however my SPS browned out. I do attribute that to using the recommended dose right off the bat. Instead I probably should have worked my way up to a full dose.

[unbreakable]

Like Michika said, it could cause a problem. Some recommend for water to flow from GFO to Carbon and out. Some say the GFO could cause a certain pathogen in clams to proliferate.

I would say not worry for now, doesn't look bad. When you see pinched mantle you'll know it. Parts of the mantle will really come together, like on one side; kind of like if it were folded like a taco

[cloak]

Here's a good article.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-09/jf/index.php