bird wrasse and clams

atzak

New member
Has anybody had first hand experience keeping a bird wrasse with clams? I'm looking at a beautiful wrasse, so looking for opinions.
 
dosent sound like a good idea

Bird Wrasse inhabit lagoons and coral-rich reef areas. It is often seen in small groups or singly. The snout is used to probe the coral for prey, primarily crustaceans, brittle stars, molluscs and small fishes.

Australian Museum Fish Collection.
 
Considering the same, I can put up with no shrimp in my tank, but has anyone any first hand experience with these guys and clams?
 
I had 5 bird wrasse together and by themselves (two males and three females) in a 150 gallon a couple of years ago and I put in a couple of smaller croceas - 4" or so - and within one day the wrasse started flipping them over and picking at their feet to chew them up. So I pulled the clams out. So in my experience the answer is that in small and medium sized tanks like less than 400 gallons, its a definite no. I love the bird wrasse. Especially the large males.
 
Bad combination. I'd say you can expect the worst, although every fish can have its own "personality" and it just might be okay. Maybe...
 
here he is ignoring a crocea
DSC_0575.jpg


We'll see what happens in the long run
 
update, after 3 months, all is good. He's never even looked twice at my clams, my acro crabs are another story, but I expected that
 
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