Clam is spewing

[Dburr1014]

@OrionN @minus9

Hey guys I need some help with this one.
I've had this Maxima clam for many years since it was about 4" Long, now it's probably close to 8"

I had it in my 75 gallon and I recently moved to my 150 4 months ago. I never really had a place to put it in the new tank so it was on a Shelf half under some SPS.
In the 75 it was getting probably 250 par and now it's more like 300 par. I've been wanting to move it for a couple months now but today it was looking a little listless. So I decided to move it a little higher and it's in between the two SPS and probably 400 power now but with full coverage. After I moved it it started spewing my first thought was eggs seeming whatever you call it.
It has a very small white growth ring around the mantle but it's always been on and off the white ring since I've had it. Almost like it has growth spurts. As of today the mental has one spot that is kind of white which led me to want to move it, I think it was just not getting the light it needed underneath the SPs. So it's been spewing this stuff for a good half hour now and I posted a video and I'm real sorry that it's blue but you can see what it's doing just the same.

I'm hoping you can give me some insight or is this something I should worry about.

Thank you in advance.

 

[JoJosReef]

@OrionN @minus9

Hey guys I need some help with this one.
I've had this Maxima clam for many years since it was about 4" Long, now it's probably close to 8"

I had it in my 75 gallon and I recently moved to my 150 4 months ago. I never really had a place to put it in the new tank so it was on a Shelf half under some SPS.
In the 75 it was getting probably 250 par and now it's more like 300 par. I've been wanting to move it for a couple months now but today it was looking a little listless. So I decided to move it a little higher and it's in between the two SPS and probably 400 power now but with full coverage. After I moved it it started spewing my first thought was eggs seeming whatever you call it.
It has a very small white growth ring around the mantle but it's always been on and off the white ring since I've had it. Almost like it has growth spurts. As of today the mental has one spot that is kind of white which led me to want to move it, I think it was just not getting the light it needed underneath the SPs. So it's been spewing this stuff for a good half hour now and I posted a video and I'm real sorry that it's blue but you can see what it's doing just the same.

I'm hoping you can give me some insight or is this something I should worry about.

Thank you in advance.

Looks like spawning, but I have no experience with this aspect of keeping clams! Interested in hearing the verdict!

 

[PharmrJohn]

Looks like spawning, but I have no experience with this aspect of keeping clams! Interested in hearing the verdict!

Sure does! And same here!

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Yeah, that's spawning - I've heard of cases where the spawning continues literally for days (~8 being the longest I recall at the moment); ~30 minutes for one day seems to be the minimum length of time a giant clam might spawn for that I've been able to find.

There are rumors that a giant clam spawning may crash a tank, but the post linked below leads me to believe that that would only be a possible issue in tiny tanks, and not something to really worry about in most tanks:

Largest clams in private aquariums?

So you have to ‘put them up for adoption’ at some point if you don’t have a huge tank?

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Dburr1014]

Yeah, that's spawning - I've heard of cases where the spawning continues literally for days (~8 being the longest I recall at the moment); ~30 minutes for one day seems to be the minimum length of time a giant clam might spawn for that I've been able to find.

There are rumors that a giant clam spawning may crash a tank, but the post linked below leads me to believe that that would only be a possible issue in tiny tanks, and not something to really worry about in most tanks:

Largest clams in private aquariums?

So you have to ‘put them up for adoption’ at some point if you don’t have a huge tank?

www.reef2reef.com

It's still going on, the fish are camped out around the mantel.

 

[Monad]

It's still going on, the fish are camped out around the mantel.

Your clam is spawning. Watch your filtration because your clam is outputting a ton of materiel that is going to break down and clog filter socks and make your skimmer work like it has never worked before. I have no direct experience about what to do. This happened at my LFS and the manager complained about how much it messed up their filters and explained what spawning does.

Congrats btw. They spawn when they’re well taken care of for a long time. So you’re taking great care of him.

Do you have moonlights that change depending on the phase of the moon? I have that option with my lights and the phase of the moon affects spawning in nature.

 

[Dburr1014]

Do you have moonlights that change depending on the phase of the moon? I have that option with my lights and the phase of the moon affects spawning in nature.

Thanks, and yes, the new reef breeders Nexus app you can set the moonlight phase.

I don't normally use socks but I put them in the other day I'm going to change them now!

 

[Monad]

Thanks, and yes, the new reef breeders Nexus app you can set the moonlight phase.

I don't normally use socks but I put them in the other day I'm going to change them now!

When mention the moonlight phase it’s the changing of the moonlight intensity over time like irl that affects the clams. So if your night light stays consistent, it should be less likely to spawn.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Is it possible at all to get baby clams? That would be cool.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Is it possible at all to get baby clams? That would be cool.

If you have more than one spawning at a time, it's possible, yes. The chances of larvae surviving in a typical tank without special care are very, very low though.

 

[Dburr1014]

When mention the moonlight phase it’s the changing of the moonlight intensity over time like irl that affects the clams. So if your night light stays consistent, it should be less likely to spawn.

It changes time and intensities.

 

[spsick]

In my experience clams will spawn during a change (stirring up sand, water change, etc) so this tracks perfectly.

Congrats!

 

[minus9]

Sorry, late to the party. Yes, as others mentioned, it's spawning. I would do some water changes and definitely keep an eye on parameters during the spawning. That size maxima isn't going to do much damage to the tank, but it's better to wet skim, use carbon and some smaller water changes to keep things stable. They do go through growth stages throughout their lives, but you should always see a little white growth on the mantle.
Keep us posted. And no, a single clam can't fertilize it's own eggs. Usually as clams mature, they'll be functioning males and only release sperm, then eventually they'll release both sperm and eggs, but there's usually a gap in time to prevent self fertilization.

 

[Hats_]

Clams also spawn as a last ditch effort to pass on genetics if theyre unhappy so id definitely keep an eye on him

 

[JoJosReef]

Sorry, late to the party. Yes, as others mentioned, it's spawning. I would do some water changes and definitely keep an eye on parameters during the spawning. That size maxima isn't going to do much damage to the tank, but it's better to wet skim, use carbon and some smaller water changes to keep things stable. They do go through growth stages throughout their lives, but you should always see a little white growth on the mantle.
Keep us posted. And no, a single clam can't fertilize it's own eggs. Usually as clams mature, they'll be functioning males and only release sperm, then eventually they'll release both sperm and eggs, but there's usually a gap in time to prevent self fertilization.

Curious why the rest of a tank's micro and macrofauna can't mop up the mess, so to speak. Seems like the fish are quite interested in getting bites of everything coming out, and wouldn't filter feeders and even corals appreciate it? Or is it that the quantity is just so much that there is a risk of ammonium/nutrient spiking and maybe bacterial blooms?

 

[minus9]

Curious why the rest of a tank's micro and macrofauna can't mop up the mess, so to speak. Seems like the fish are quite interested in getting bites of everything coming out, and wouldn't filter feeders and even corals appreciate it? Or is it that the quantity is just so much that there is a risk of ammonium/nutrient spiking and maybe bacterial blooms?

It depends on the size of the clam and the size of the tank. Imagine a 12” derasa spawning in a standard 120g, that can really wreak havoc on the system. I think you’re probably safe with your clam, but it’s better to “help” the system if you can.

 

[Dburr1014]

Curious why the rest of a tank's micro and macrofauna can't mop up the mess, so to speak. Seems like the fish are quite interested in getting bites of everything coming out, and wouldn't filter feeders and even corals appreciate it? Or is it that the quantity is just so much that there is a risk of ammonium/nutrient spiking and maybe bacterial blooms?

It depends on the size of the clam and the size of the tank. Imagine a 12” derasa spawning in a standard 120g, that can really wreak havoc on the system. I think you’re probably safe with your clam, but it’s better to “help” the system if you can.

I'm constantly at 0 nitrate.
System is about 160 gallon and it's a 8"ish clam.
I'll assess when I get home after work.

This is also concerning as the reason I posted.

Clams also spawn as a last ditch effort to pass on genetics if theyre unhappy so id definitely keep an eye on him

 

[minus9]

I'm constantly at 0 nitrate.
System is about 160 gallon and it's a 8"ish clam.
I'll assess when I get home after work.

This is also concerning as the reason I posted.

How often are you feeding your fish?

 

[minus9]

I doubt you’re truly at zero, but you can help out by dosing ammonium bicarbonate in pulse doses throughout the day. Personally, I feed my tanks about 6 times a day on average and dose 4mL of ammonium 4-5 times a day and I’m only around 3ppm of NO3. And that’s kinda high for me. I think most people don’t feed enough in fear of algae, but algae doesn’t care what your nutrient level is. You can have zero nutrients measured and plenty of algae. Herbivores eat algae and provide food for coral via urea. So if you don’t have enough fish or feed them enough, then it’s hard for your corals to “eat” too. Nutrients don’t equal algae.
Sorry to sidetrack there, but wanted to make sure my advice on feeding more had some context.

 

[Dburr1014]

How often are you feeding your fish?

I see them four times a day on a auto feeder and once a week I put out Nori and I feed Frozen most of the time that night when I get home from work.

I'm definitely not worried that the coral aren't getting their nutrition. I've been building up my fish population and I'm sure they're getting a lot of ammonium.

The clam is looking, Eh, today. When I put my hand over it it doesn't retract from the light blocking. I have a feeling that it's not going to make it. I've had it since March of 2019, that's my earliest photograph. It's meant all is not out in the open and it's shrunken. Either that's normal for after spawning or it's not doing very well.