cleaner wrasse nip at my clam

[calvinci]

I have this cleaner wrasse 2 weeks, so far it didn't bother about my 4 crocea in the tank. Until yesterday, I found one of the clam's mantle not fully extended. Then I notice this cleaner nip at it's mantle.

There seems like some scratches on the mantle.. How could this happen, I thought cleaner wrasse is clam safe, all other 3 clams have no problem. Only this particular clam, even I move it to other location, the wrasse still after it...

Anyone have clam and cleaner wrasse together living peacefully?

This cleaner wrasse looks exactly like this one.

Should I remove the clam, exchange for other individual clam from the LFS?

 

[Foster]

I have a cleaner wrasse and a Maxima, the claner never bother the clam.

Perhaps there is a small parisite on the clam mantle...got a magnifine glass?

There is another fish that looks just like a cleaner wrasse called a "False Cleaner Wrasse" the only difference is that the mouth on the false is a little lower that the real cleaner wrasse, but I dont know how comman they are...... just thought I would point it out.

 

[Charlie Davidson]

I have had several "so called" reef safe fish nip at clams. IMO Each fish has its own personality. much like people!! The fish in my main tank have forced me to move all crocea (4 left- they killed 2) and my maxi (one killed) from the tank, they are not touching the derasa or squami-------- yet.
Has anyone come up with the mini spear gun yet?

 

[calvinci]

I am aware of the falce cleaner, and double confirm this one is real cleaner before I purchase it.

charlie, mind to share what fish that is reef safe but nip at your clam?

 

[firechild]

It is actually quite common for cleaner wrasses to pick at the mantle of clams. In a lot of cases it leads to the clam shutting completely and can lead to a decline in the health of the clam. In some cases it even leads to the death of the overenthusiastic wrasse that gets caught in the shell of the clam. I don't recommend keeping cleaner wrasses with clams.

 

[Charlie Davidson]

Maroon and gold clown (now in slump), Black sailfin blenny, and a Coral beauty. the clown was attacking the derasa terrible. The other two were just nipping enought that the clams were allways retracted. Clown free to local pick-up!