Rubidor Posted February 13, 2006 Report Share Posted February 13, 2006 Hi guys have you ever heard of cleaner shrimps eating the flesh from the valley of a very large healthy clam? He has been isolated for his own good at the moment but not sure why the shrimps have taken a liking to him. Hoping he will survive, he was severely distressed and spawned last night ( a defence mechanism I have read) but is still responsive to light this mornin. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookie extreme Posted February 13, 2006 Report Share Posted February 13, 2006 healthy clam how sure are you?, clams can die slowly (deteriorate). otherwise the clam would shut its shells very quickly to prevent the shrimps nipping on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rubidor Posted February 14, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 14, 2006 Fairly sure, good bright colours, amazing retraction and extension of flesh and remarkably fast ability to open and close when he feels threatened, he just doesnt notice? or seem to respond to the shrimps picking at him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted February 14, 2006 Report Share Posted February 14, 2006 or doesn't care? are they really eating it's flesh or just cleaning it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raeh1 Posted February 14, 2006 Report Share Posted February 14, 2006 Once for a couple of days my shrimp looked to be doing the same thing Then stopped I assumed it was an infection. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rubidor Posted February 14, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 14, 2006 This clam is about 200mm long and they were picking at an area about 25mm round, they had removed all the colouring to show a bright white patch, I am only assuming this is what had distressed it to the max, to get it to spawn Im picking it was stressed as it had also excreted some of its innards, but still seems really responsive and a lot happier now that shrimps cant get at it. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faran Posted February 15, 2006 Report Share Posted February 15, 2006 I used to raise giant clams at a Mariculture Research station in Palau so I've seen this before. The cleaner shrimps were literally cleaning the clam, most probably due to an infection. As you can see, the clam still has all reflexes so it was allowing the shrimp clean it. You may lose some flesh and the clam may have residual discolouration, but most likely benefitted from the shrimps action. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rubidor Posted February 15, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2006 Thanks for all the info, If the above post is true why for "no reason" did it suddenly spawn or is this just something they do now and again? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faran Posted February 17, 2006 Report Share Posted February 17, 2006 Did he spawn before or after you isolated him? How is he doing now? Sorry, I don't visit the saltie forum very often, will tell it to notify me when there's responses on here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rubidor Posted February 18, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2006 Morning, He spawned before isolation, he is way happy again and the colour is returning to the area that had been picked at. What was the market you raised Giants for, do they eat them somewhere in the world? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faran Posted February 18, 2006 Report Share Posted February 18, 2006 Giant clam is a delicacy for Japanese. They used to fly all the way from Japan to the tiny island just to have a feast. Tey were also exported for the food market and aquarium market as well. Your clam may have come from where I used to work Glad he's recovering. They're beautiful, majestic creatures and when you realize how slowly they grow and how large some get you appreciate the majesty of them. Still hard to shake the fear of getting your leg trapped in one while diving, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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