Clam gone overnight!

[jrw]

I introduced a small crocea clam to my 90 gallon last night and it looked great before going to bed. When I woke up this morning nothing remained but the shell and the top lining. A Tongan Nassarius snail was eating what remained near the opening for the foot.

This was fast to disappear like that. I'm starting to suspect a predator of some sort, but what?

Also of note: I lost a yellow tang a couple of months ago (disappeared without a trace).

Water params are great and all other coral and fish look great.

Any ideas??

 

[beaker77]

What fish, crabs, and snails do you have in the tank?

 

[smy168]

younger clams tend to be more fragile, it could have already been stressed beyond repair, as far as preds. the thing to look out for are pyramid snails and certain starfish, some crabs may go after them.

 

[jrw]

Fish: Nothing aggresive but I'll list them for fun.
- Pair of ocellaris clowns
- Pair of pink skunk clowns
-Male mandarin dragonet
-Blue Regal Tang

Crabs:
Various hermits (scartlet and blue legs)
Snails: Bumble bee, astreas, couple of mexican turbos, queen conchs, Super Tongan Nassarius.

I'm sure this will help none but there you go.

 

[smy168]

do you still have the clam? take a look around the foot for small pyramid snails, if not then the transport caused too much stress or water params.

 

[jrw]

Because pyramid snails are the only predators of clams?????

 

[Kent E]

I think you have something else that you don't know about.

 

[jrw]

Yes, but what will it be? The big surprise is that I just broke this tank down and moved it 4 hours away and saw nothing I didn't know about. What ever it is, it's not big.

 

[smy168]

you know that anytime you move your system, it'll need to cycle. If not at leasta short cycle.

 

[jrw]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7623667#post7623667 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by smy168
you know that anytime you move your system, it'll need to cycle. If not at leasta short cycle.

Yes I am aware of this. The move was over a month ago. Water params are great, all other inverts and fish are doing well.

I am sure it is a predator. Ammonia and nitrate elevations are not typical to kill in a few hours unless extremely excessive.

 

[Kent E]

Crabs can get big in a hurry. Do you poke you nose in the tank at different times in the night with a red flashlight?