How do I know if my freshwater clams are dead.?

Question

I have a 55 gallon freshwater tank, with a variety of cichlids. Recently developed a bacteria bloom at the same time I got the clams. Have been doing 50% water changes to control the bloom and ammonia, daily for the last days. Out of the 7 clams only one is cracked open and the rest have been dormant for a day and a half. How do will I know if they are still alive? Any help will be apreciated!

Answer 1

If their shells are more than slightly open on a constant basis for more than 48 hrs or if they are floating for more than 72 hrs, its time for concern.

Answer 2

When they die, they lose the ability to contract the muscles that keep the shell closed. You can tell if they're just feeding, you'll see just a sliver of flesh, and two holes--one "inlet" and one "outlet" with some tiny "frilly" looking flesh around it. I've seen some dead ones that stay shut, but if you pick them up, the shells pull apart easily. Oh, and the smell will be horrendous.

FW clams are hardy. While moving across country 2 winters ago, it was in the negative 20's in the Midwest. It took 2 nights to get through it, and of course my clams were packed up in the back of the van under everything and spent two nights outside. Most survived.

FW clams are non-photosynthetic, by the way.

Answer 3

The shells will be open more than a crack (if just a crack, they are feeding) and they'll smell.

Clams should bury themselves at least partway into the substrate - is yours deep and soft enough for them to do this? I'd also watch to see if the cichlids are harassing them at all by digging around them in the substrate. If the clams are being disturbed and aren't opening, they aren't feeding and may eventually starve.

Answer 4

well clams need tons of light most keeper can not keep clam alive long at all . they take lots of know how