Clam killers

[acer]

Well lost a clam today - I added a flame angel recently and today noticed one of my clams was torn up and 1/2 eaten. Watched for a while and three fish were eating ( I have video) = the flame , a yellow eyed Kole Tang, and a 6 line wrasse. Both the tang and the wrasse have been in the tank with clams for over a year. Moving my other 2 clams to the office tank as now I cant be sure even if I caught the flame and moved him that the others would not decide to eat my other two clams without him- now that they have had a taste. Of note, I also began feeding a home brew mix of food that included chopped up mussels. So, what promoted the feeding frenzy - the flame angel who did not touch anything for over a week , or by feeding the mussels - did the fish get a taste and want more??? Another note- my blue throat trigger was not interested - hmmmm....

 

[Yinzer]

Hmm, now I'm thinking seafood for dinner. On another note, losing a clam sucks especially if you had it for a long time.

 

[bmiller1234]

From live aquaria...

The Flame Angelfish is prone to nip at stony and soft corals (sessile invertebrates) and clam mantles.

I am sure the other fish were just enjoying the leftovers but might be worth it to move the clams. Not sure if they would continue without an aggressor.

 

[acer]

ya -easier to move the clams than catch the flame angel. Last flame I had was a model citizen.

 

[cloakerpoked]

Any angel is on an individual basis, but they are definitely nippers, so that'd be it for sure. Wrasses and tangs aren't really known as having a particular interest in any kind of clams, so I'm sure that it started once there was already blood in the water. It's a shame that the flame is such a nasty citizen though..

 

[acer]

Yes nasty Angel - one clam moved successfully today , the other is under a safety net. I am still shocked at the flame angel- I bet he starts nailing corals soon and then i will have to figure out what to do with him. Discipline ideas? he, he. Watching the tang munch on the clam was worth taking a video of - you don't see that everyday. Who says tangs are vegetarian ( tough- in- cheek).

 

[LeviChar1]

Sorry to hear, Acer. I get tired of saying this too, but Cloak is right again (his checks arrive in my mail regularly). Each one is its own gamble. My F/A was pesky too; like wrasses they patrol mercilessly along the reef looking for small animals to nibble on. They are much more aggressive than you'd expect from a small, pretty fish. Its the angel gene. Anyway, it doesn't take much to shock a clam before the buffet opens. Wrasses never miss a buffet.

 

[acer]

yes- but this is my third flame since in the hobby - the other two were model citizens- so never even thought about it - my mistake. Of coarse he is the prettiest, the quickest to become confortable in the tank ,etc. Just goes to show you that no matter how much you think you know - fish are not all that predictable. Transferred both remaining clams to my office tank - don't get a chance to enjoy them there as much. Anybody willing/able to remove acrylic tank scratches - let me know- I will pay- just cant afford to have more tendinitis as a Chiropractor.

 

[cloakerpoked]

If you need to trap him and get him out of the tank, I've heard that these special "fish traps" work great for getting them out in a hurry.