careful with fish/clam selection

[JR719]

I have only 1 clam, a great squamosa. I also have 2 engineer gobies. I hate these fish and cannot get them trapped. Today I came home and this is what I found. I did not have the clam attached to anything, just sitting on the bottom. After this, I don't know if I can get the little guy moved due to possible being stuck to the bottom. Any suggestions? Should I just grab it and try to move? Will it move on it's own? Any advise greatly appreciated.

 

[JR719]

As you can see, its mantle is under the substrate on the left. The clam is about 5 1/2". How can I correct this? before you say get rid of the gobies, I am trying, how can I get it back to the top of the substrate?

 

[Reefcherie]

You could try very gently and slowly rocking the clam a little; you should be able to tell if it has attached or not. If not, you can move it with no problem. If the clam is unhappy, it is fairly capable of moving itself, including dropping its attachment. If your clam is still extending its mantle fully and isn't gaping, I wouldn't worry about it. I suspect in the wild, large clams provide shelter to a variety of critters.

Cheri

 

[JR719]

I began messing with the clam, it did not seem to be attached. I was able to lift it up and put it on a rock without pulling anything off. Very lucky I guess. I need to get rid of these monster fish but cannot catch them. I would shock the tank but afraid I would kill other stuff I like. Nothing seems to be working to catch them.

Jeff

 

[Reefcherie]

You can catch almost any fish if you are willing to drain the tank to just a couple of inches of water. None of your corals or clam will die from a short exposure. Have a couple of clean, food grade garbage cans handy and siphon the water out as quickly as possible. Pump it back in after you've caught the little darlin's

Cheri

 

[JR719]

I will try that, thanks reefcherie.

Jeff

 

[DRZL-sauras]

How about shootiing kalk paste into their burrow?

bwa ha haaaa

how'd it go for you?

 

[JR719]

Guess I should have added a couple of days after. I tried the trap, no luck. I began taking rock out to catch them. They only moved under another rock. SO, after removing all my rock I was able to get them. Finally, I hated those things.

Jeff

 

[mbbuna]

Barb and i just weent thru this a few months back, we pulled everything out of our 75g clam tank just to get these 2 buggers,living in the sump now(100g so there still happy) they can sure make a mess!!!!!! lol

 

[JR719]

Yes they can, and they get big. Should not have listened to the lfs person. Said they would only get around 3". Mine were huge and made huge messes. At least they are out and now have credit at the lfs.