Clams vs Stinging Corals

[smiller]

I did a search but didn't find much info on this subject. In what I did find there was some disagreement. Some say that clams can be stung and others say no. Including one that said in the Knop book that he states that clams are immune (paraphrasing) to most corals stings. Does anyone have any experience with this in their reefs? I have a large deresa and a large hammer that are trying to shake hands and no place to move either one.

Thanks.

 

[ReefBum]

i am facing practically the same situation and would love to hear any comments.

 

[jim norris]

I have some first hand experience on this. My 16 inch gigas right upper portion of his mantle constantly comes in contact with a large hammer coral. And both are fine!
Jim

 

[ReefBum]

my hammer is so close to my squamosa now that it must have touched at some point....the fact that i haven't noticed a reaction from the clam tells me that everything is probably ok...and jim, your experience gives me even more reason to believe that this is the case.

 

[Will]

it must be variable because at a lfs that i visit regularly, a small maxima clam was stung by a plate coral and died the next day..
fourhand2

 

[smiller]

Thanks for the responses. fourhand2.....I would guess even without knowing if a plate could sting a clam that death was not caused overnight by the plate. If a clam is irritated it will close up partially or completely for days (maybe longer?) before it dies.

 

[Mynameismatt]

i hear the only way that a clam can be hurt by a stinging coral is over an extended period of time. if the clam is already on its way out and is weak i am sure that it would not help the situation.

 

[Salt Creep]

This one sits in the middle of a Turbinaria cup. It's grown quite a bit and has attached itself very firmly. The mantle at the corner of the shell is drawn away from the tentacles but otherwise the clam doesn't seem bothered by the coral.

Ken

 

[smiller]

Good pic Ken.

 

[Sloth]

bumped up from the past....