Clams and Sallylightfoot crabs

[dougisom@hotmail.com]

I recently purchased 2 small Maxima (BLUE) clams. They were about 2 inches each. To ensure their success I also added 1 250 watt MH 10000K lamp to my already sufficient VHO lighting. I placed the clams directly under the MH about 24 inches down. (My mushrooms and starpolyps directly under the MH were not happy). The clams were doing well for the first few weeks. However, I noticed my two Sallylightfoot crabs were always picking at them. It looked like they were just picking things off the shells. One morning, I noticed one of the clams had been broken open and eaten. About 4 days later the other was gone.

I am assuming it was my Sally's that ate them. Along with the Sally's, I have two emerald crabs, some pepperming shrimp and a variety of other hermits in the tank.

Has anyone had problems with any "reef safe" crabs with clams?

Was the clams small size a factor in being eate?. If I purchased larger clams would they be able to stay safe from the crabs?

I have become very good with making custom acrylic items for my tanks. I have considered creating some type of acrylic box to protect the clams until I am able to catch the crabs. How might this effect there feeding? I would obviously create as much water exchange as possible without letting the Sally's in, but overall flow would probably be somewhat reduced. It might make feeding phyto directly to the box easier.

Thanks,

 

[AttackDonut]

From what I have read/seen/etc. Clams are left alone unless they are sickly, or dying, then it's a free for all.

I have anemone crabs and peppermint shrimps and emerald crabs in with my clams and have not seen an issue, *except* with a clam that was sickly, then it was crab food.