clam versus acan echinata?

[1337TANKHAX]

so i bought a really small crocea about a week ago. its been receding now smaller and smaller all week. i have it under 70Watts @ 14K in my 12 gal cube. ive been told this is adequate lighting. so i just realized today that its been sitting about an inch away from my acan echinata. i have never seen it sweep with stinging tentacles, but do you think that this could be why my clam has been receding?

ive moved the clam away from it now, so we'll see how it does, but is this a possibility? do acan echinatas have stinging sweepers?


thanks in advance,

daryl

 

[1337TANKHAX]

so i found the culprit with the flashlight method at night. there was a pretty large bristleworm that looked like it was gnawing on the foot of the clam. ive heard that the bristleworms will only come in if the clam is already dead, but the clam was reacting to changes in light earlier today, as well as pumping out a little water. i couldnt tell if it has died yet, but ill check in the morning. ive also seen a couple of my hermits picking at the rim of its shell. do hermits have a rep for gnawing on clams?

 

[crvz]

Hmm, it could have been a predatory worm instead of a bristleworm. Any chance you could get a picture? I'd be surprised, but I agree that a bristleworm wouldnt attack an otherwise healthy clam.

 

[a4twenty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13952929#post13952929 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 1337TANKHAX
ive heard that the bristleworms will only come in if the clam is already dead

or dieing, they are attracted by the smell of dieing flesh. the crabs are the same, though they may just be going after what is on the shell.

could you post a pic of the clam??

 

[1337TANKHAX]

it was just a standard pink/purple bristle. but the clam was non-responsive when i checked it this morning, so im guessing its just completely dead. all of my parameters were fine throughout the week though, so i dont know what the deal was. ive heard giving the clam a freshwater dip before you put it into your tank can help. next time i guess ill try that along with getting a little bigger of a clam so its not so succeptable to so many different things.

a4twenty, id take a pic, but i only have my phone up at school here with me, but the clam was a beautiful little crocea-electric blue with green hues lined with the silver sparkly stuff.