Problem with my Gigas

OrionN · 06/04/2014, 06:27 PM

I have problem with my Gigas and wanted to post it here to see if anybody with similar problem.
My Gigas have localized area of bleaching of the mantel. In these areas, there are air pockets in the tissue. I try to capture these on camera and it is not 100% clear but in real live viewing, there is no mistake that there are air pockets. The clam mantel is irritated in these area, but other than that, he is OK, continue to grow although not as fast as before.
These are are not from the atmosphere. He hav enot been out of the water for at least 9 months when I moved him to this tank. Since he was huge, I did not take him out of the water but lower a large bucket into the water, then move the whole bucket with clam to my current DT. This was 9 months ago.
From the look of this, I think he have internal infection of these mantel area with gas producing bacterial. So far the infection is not spreading. I will keep this thread update once in a while. Anyone with similar experience please chime in.

Here are pictures of the mantel area that have a gas bubble in it.

ca1ore · 06/04/2014, 08:31 PM

I have never seen this on any of my clams, but I do vaguely recall reading about gas-bubble disease in on of the aquarium clam books. Maybe the one by Knop? I have the book; will go and look.

OrionN · 06/04/2014, 08:50 PM

I just went and pull out my Knop clam booK. There is a Gasbubble disease, page 95-96. I have to do more search on this. It does not seem like this is the same problem.
Thanks ca1ore

ca1ore · 06/04/2014, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OrionN

I just went and pull out my Knop clam booK. There is a Gasbubble disease, page 95-96. I have to do more search on this. It does not seem like this is the same problem.
Thanks ca1ore

I went and looked and concur that it does not appear to be what you are experiencing. I figure given your day job if you cannot figure it out nobody can.

moliken · 06/05/2014, 04:55 AM

no experience with anything like that

OrionN · 06/05/2014, 05:33 AM

Many of you may know that I have a lot of light over my aquarium. It is a 72X36 30 inches high (320 gal) with 7 Radions over it 4 G3 Pro and 3 G2. Several weeks ago, I removed one of the light and also move the lights so that there is no direct light over the Gigas. I did this because I see signs that I think the Gigas was over lighted. The Gigas is happier and mantel open fully. He was not fully open under brighter light.
The largest bubble pictured above seem to have break through the mantel, and no longer there. The mantel seem to heal over this event with no problem.
There is one bubble over another area of the mantel that seem to have resolved. I will try to take top down picture of the area interested this weekend and will try to take weekly picture to see if there is any objective changes over time.

moliken · 06/06/2014, 05:07 AM

sounds hopeful.

OrionN · 06/08/2014, 05:52 PM

He is looking a lot better. The Bubble have resolved, now only slight bleach at the area where the bubbles were. Below are two picture of him just now:

ca1ore · 06/08/2014, 08:54 PM

Minh, did you attempt any kind of treatment, or did it resolve on its own?

OrionN · 06/08/2014, 10:51 PM

I did not try to treat him with anything. To me, It seem to be an infection. It seem that clams do have some sort of immune system that seen to be able to handle some infection. If he did not improve, I would have taken him out and treat him with antibiotic. Anaerobic infection often produce gases. I would use this fact as guide to choose the antibiotic. Fortunately for me, he seem to improved and is much better.

hart24601 · 06/09/2014, 03:19 PM

Great to hear it's better! I enjoy seeing and hearing about your gigas even though I don't post about it, as I am sure many people do!

Giovanni · 06/29/2014, 03:12 PM

Glad to hear your clam is better. I would love to have a Gigas but for now have to live vicariously through other.

I had once heard you cannot have to much light on a clam. I guess this is wrong.

ca1ore · 06/30/2014, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Giovanni

I had once heard you cannot have to much light on a clam. I guess this is wrong.

I think 20 years ago, when lighting systems just weren't that good, it was true! Things progress though, and with modern LED, MH and T5 lighting systems, you can absolutely provide too much if not careful. Trouble is, the old myths persist.

Giovanni · 06/30/2014, 03:49 PM

I wish of the community would start speaking in PAR so that we could have a real idea of what is needed. I have been having trouble keeping any 2" maxima clams alive and wonder if the par is high not low.

OrionN · 06/30/2014, 03:59 PM

Sorry, I cannot talk in PAR because I don't use a PAR meter.
I think for Gigas, which live in the deep, the amount of light I gave him was too much. I basically use one 7 Radion for 6 foot of tank at 100% out put. He does great when I decrease the light to 6 lights and make sue that the light is not directly above him. I think my Derasa and Squamosa also show perhaps too much light. No bleaching or problem other than less matel extension then they are under lower light. No problem with growth.
Crocea and Maxima is fine with this level of light. Great color with this level of light in Maxima and Crocea. IMO, I have reach max light tolerant for theother three species fo clams (Gigas, Derasa and Squamosa) with my light set.

ZephNYC · 07/01/2014, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OrionN

Sorry, I cannot talk in PAR because I don't use a PAR meter.
I think for Gigas, which live in the deep, the amount of light I gave him was too much. I basically use one 7 Radion for 6 foot of tank at 100% out put. He does great when I decrease the light to 6 lights and make sue that the light is not directly above him. I think my Derasa and Squamosa also show perhaps too much light. No bleaching or problem other than less matel extension then they are under lower light. No problem with growth.
Crocea and Maxima is fine with this level of light. Great color with this level of light in Maxima and Crocea. IMO, I have reach max light tolerant for theother three species fo clams (Gigas, Derasa and Squamosa) with my light set.

Interesting. Ive had my Gigas for 8 years now. It sits under 1000W of Metal halide lighting. 2x250W14K, and 2X 250W 10K. It grows about a half inch per year.

OrionN · 07/01/2014, 10:58 AM

Mine grow more than 1 inch last year. One inch on each end and about 1.5 inches in the middle. He is about 14 years old and about 20 inches long at this time. I really pump lots of Ca into my system.

OrionN · 07/11/2014, 09:47 AM

My gigas is doing great. Everything resolved. We (the Gigas and I) are happy.

hart24601 · 07/11/2014, 01:14 PM

Can't "like" that enough! That may be the prettiest gigas I have seen.

Giovanni · 07/12/2014, 01:28 AM

Glad to hear it is better. I would hate to see one die!

JoeySiew · 07/12/2014, 07:56 AM

It's just beautiful. Glad it's fine. Been searching for ages for one

marlboroken · 07/20/2014, 05:54 AM

I wonder where i could get a giga

wakesetter · 07/31/2014, 06:46 PM

good luck getting a gigas. (it's gigas, not giga). They haven't been imported for at least 5 years. No imports in the plans according to the LA wholesalers that I have asked. Your only way to get one will probably to buy one from someone selling theirs.

OrionN · 07/31/2014, 06:54 PM

Thanks. My T. gigas is doing great. It is older and grew a lot over last year. It start to change color. Now the color in the interior of the mantel start to become gold.

4/2014

7/2014

AquaTDV · 07/31/2014, 07:15 PM

Nice one Mihn!

06/04/2014, 08:31 PM	#2
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	I have never seen this on any of my clams, but I do vaguely recall reading about gas-bubble disease in on of the aquarium clam books. Maybe the one by Knop? I have the book; will go and look. __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs

06/04/2014, 08:50 PM	#3
OrionN Moved on Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Coastal Texas Posts: 16,000	I just went and pull out my Knop clam booK. There is a Gasbubble disease, page 95-96. I have to do more search on this. It does not seem like this is the same problem. Thanks ca1ore __________________ Minh My homepage is my album here at Reef Central Current Tank Info: Reboot 320 anemones reef. Angels: Yellow Chest Regal(2), Flame (2). Copperband But. Tangs: Yellow, Purple. Wrasse: about 20 wrasses various species. Anemones: Giantea X4 (Breen, Blue, Purple and Multicolors), Haddoni X1 Red, Magnifica X1 Purpletip

06/05/2014, 04:55 AM	#5
moliken Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: smyrna Posts: 3,536	no experience with anything like that __________________ not obsessse--scuse me gotta check on the tank Current Tank Info: 75 and 65gals plumbed together, clams 12 fish. lps corals/ aquaillumination leds on the 75 and lovin them. t5's

06/05/2014, 05:33 AM	#6
OrionN Moved on Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Coastal Texas Posts: 16,000	Many of you may know that I have a lot of light over my aquarium. It is a 72X36 30 inches high (320 gal) with 7 Radions over it 4 G3 Pro and 3 G2. Several weeks ago, I removed one of the light and also move the lights so that there is no direct light over the Gigas. I did this because I see signs that I think the Gigas was over lighted. The Gigas is happier and mantel open fully. He was not fully open under brighter light. The largest bubble pictured above seem to have break through the mantel, and no longer there. The mantel seem to heal over this event with no problem. There is one bubble over another area of the mantel that seem to have resolved. I will try to take top down picture of the area interested this weekend and will try to take weekly picture to see if there is any objective changes over time. __________________ Minh My homepage is my album here at Reef Central Current Tank Info: Reboot 320 anemones reef. Angels: Yellow Chest Regal(2), Flame (2). Copperband But. Tangs: Yellow, Purple. Wrasse: about 20 wrasses various species. Anemones: Giantea X4 (Breen, Blue, Purple and Multicolors), Haddoni X1 Red, Magnifica X1 Purpletip

06/06/2014, 05:07 AM	#7
moliken Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: smyrna Posts: 3,536	sounds hopeful. __________________ not obsessse--scuse me gotta check on the tank Current Tank Info: 75 and 65gals plumbed together, clams 12 fish. lps corals/ aquaillumination leds on the 75 and lovin them. t5's

06/08/2014, 08:54 PM	#9
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	Minh, did you attempt any kind of treatment, or did it resolve on its own? __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs

06/08/2014, 10:51 PM	#10
OrionN Moved on Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Coastal Texas Posts: 16,000	I did not try to treat him with anything. To me, It seem to be an infection. It seem that clams do have some sort of immune system that seen to be able to handle some infection. If he did not improve, I would have taken him out and treat him with antibiotic. Anaerobic infection often produce gases. I would use this fact as guide to choose the antibiotic. Fortunately for me, he seem to improved and is much better. __________________ Minh My homepage is my album here at Reef Central Current Tank Info: Reboot 320 anemones reef. Angels: Yellow Chest Regal(2), Flame (2). Copperband But. Tangs: Yellow, Purple. Wrasse: about 20 wrasses various species. Anemones: Giantea X4 (Breen, Blue, Purple and Multicolors), Haddoni X1 Red, Magnifica X1 Purpletip

06/09/2014, 03:19 PM	#11
hart24601 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 633	Great to hear it's better! I enjoy seeing and hearing about your gigas even though I don't post about it, as I am sure many people do!

06/29/2014, 03:12 PM	#12
Giovanni AKA Flippa Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: KY Posts: 2,207 Blog Entries: 8	Glad to hear your clam is better. I would love to have a Gigas but for now have to live vicariously through other. I had once heard you cannot have to much light on a clam. I guess this is wrong. __________________ Giovanni Most of My Money I Spent On Whiskey, Women and Reefing, The Rest I Just Waisted! Current Tank Info: 180 Mixed Reef

06/30/2014, 03:49 PM	#14
Giovanni AKA Flippa Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: KY Posts: 2,207 Blog Entries: 8	I wish of the community would start speaking in PAR so that we could have a real idea of what is needed. I have been having trouble keeping any 2" maxima clams alive and wonder if the par is high not low. __________________ Giovanni Most of My Money I Spent On Whiskey, Women and Reefing, The Rest I Just Waisted! Current Tank Info: 180 Mixed Reef

06/30/2014, 03:59 PM	#15
OrionN Moved on Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Coastal Texas Posts: 16,000	Sorry, I cannot talk in PAR because I don't use a PAR meter. I think for Gigas, which live in the deep, the amount of light I gave him was too much. I basically use one 7 Radion for 6 foot of tank at 100% out put. He does great when I decrease the light to 6 lights and make sue that the light is not directly above him. I think my Derasa and Squamosa also show perhaps too much light. No bleaching or problem other than less matel extension then they are under lower light. No problem with growth. Crocea and Maxima is fine with this level of light. Great color with this level of light in Maxima and Crocea. IMO, I have reach max light tolerant for theother three species fo clams (Gigas, Derasa and Squamosa) with my light set. __________________ Minh My homepage is my album here at Reef Central Current Tank Info: Reboot 320 anemones reef. Angels: Yellow Chest Regal(2), Flame (2). Copperband But. Tangs: Yellow, Purple. Wrasse: about 20 wrasses various species. Anemones: Giantea X4 (Breen, Blue, Purple and Multicolors), Haddoni X1 Red, Magnifica X1 Purpletip

07/01/2014, 10:58 AM	#17
OrionN Moved on Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Coastal Texas Posts: 16,000	Mine grow more than 1 inch last year. One inch on each end and about 1.5 inches in the middle. He is about 14 years old and about 20 inches long at this time. I really pump lots of Ca into my system. __________________ Minh My homepage is my album here at Reef Central Current Tank Info: Reboot 320 anemones reef. Angels: Yellow Chest Regal(2), Flame (2). Copperband But. Tangs: Yellow, Purple. Wrasse: about 20 wrasses various species. Anemones: Giantea X4 (Breen, Blue, Purple and Multicolors), Haddoni X1 Red, Magnifica X1 Purpletip

07/11/2014, 01:14 PM	#19
hart24601 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 633	Can't "like" that enough! That may be the prettiest gigas I have seen.

07/12/2014, 01:28 AM	#20
Giovanni AKA Flippa Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: KY Posts: 2,207 Blog Entries: 8	Glad to hear it is better. I would hate to see one die! __________________ Giovanni Most of My Money I Spent On Whiskey, Women and Reefing, The Rest I Just Waisted! Current Tank Info: 180 Mixed Reef

07/12/2014, 07:56 AM	#21
JoeySiew Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 32	It's just beautiful. Glad it's fine. Been searching for ages for one

07/20/2014, 05:54 AM	#22
marlboroken Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 16	I wonder where i could get a giga

07/31/2014, 06:46 PM	#23
wakesetter Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: CA Posts: 1,641	good luck getting a gigas. (it's gigas, not giga). They haven't been imported for at least 5 years. No imports in the plans according to the LA wholesalers that I have asked. Your only way to get one will probably to buy one from someone selling theirs.

07/31/2014, 07:15 PM	#25
AquaTDV Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Antonio TX Posts: 286	Nice one Mihn!