Clam vs. Tangs....

[POSEDION]

I just bought a Powder Blue Tang and a Purple Tang. It has been 3 days now, today I notice both of them nipping at my derosa clam mantle. They seem to be going for the mantle itself, not the algae on the shell. It almost appeared that the purple tang took a clear piece off the clam (maybe some type of skin layer). I do not know what to do. Is this natural for them?

 

[Scuba Dog]

I have heard acounts of it happening, but its rare, bummer...try moving the clam if possible that may help....

 

[POSEDION]

I just moved it. I hope this helps!!!

 

[Scuba Dog]

You could drop a clip of seaweed to distract the tangs lol....I think that they may settle in some....

 

[hwynboy]

Is it a new clam? Sometimes with new clams they secrete a mucus which causes fish to pick at them...A strawberry basket over the clam for a couple of days would help . If it's not a new clam it's unusual for tangs to pick on clams....so I don't know.

 

[gqjeff]

I have a blue hippo thats tarted picking on my new neon blue maxima. I have had a crocea in there for a few weeks without any problems.. Now the damn hippo has even picked at my crocea. I have a purple max that he never touches either.. I moved the new max last night and he didn;t seem to bother it after that. If I see this going on anymore though its time for the old fishtrap and I will get another blue hippo.. I have had this fish for 3-4 yrs and hes good size with great color but I luv my clams....

Peace and maybe I can try the strawberry basket trick...

 

[reef]

I had a purple that picked at one of my clams until the clam died. The tang also had a taste for open brain corals.

 

[Paul79936]

I had a problem with a regal tang picking up a small clam and dropping in different places in the tank. It ended up dropping it into a crevice and killing it.