did my copperband eat my 1 horu old clam?

[Aadler]

Bought a clam this afternoon, a real small guy, great purple/blue color... Went to grab dinner, came back and bam dead. copperband, mandarin, nass snails and hermits are all that is in the tank... arg i am ****ed. im thinking the copperband had a nice snack... but i thought they would stay away from a healthy clam.. but must not. i dunno.

 

[Aadler]

skrew im with stupid. im stupid. and ****ed. :C)

 

[Tswifty]

got pics of the nas snails...? Although even if they were whelks I don't think they could finish off a clam that fast.

 

[Aadler]

they arnt whelks. there was one on the empty clam when i got home. he is having a nice dirt nap right now (i was ****ed, he said for the third time ).

 

[ReefWidowed]

If it was a super small clam, it's possible that it just had a bad acclimation (no matter how careful you were) But my vote goes to the butterfly....sorry

 

[Esquare]

You want I should rub'em out?

Sorry for the loss.

 

[Aadler]

widowed you serious? gone in 2 hours? i admit i didnt drip him but i still took my time... he looked fine for the first 30 min in the tank... a snail came up, he closed, snail left, mantle was looking nice. Was my first try with clams.. however i must admit.. may be awhile before i bother again.

 

[itZme]

That sucks for your first experience. When it comes to clams you don't want anything less than about 3" unless you know exactly how to spot feed and care for small clams. Once they are around 2.5" they are sturdier and do not need the intense phytoplankton feedings anymore.
Don't lose hope for clams just expect to pay a bit more for the larger sizes. My first clam was a 2.5" maxima and they are supposed to be difficult and high light requirements. I kept it for over 2 years without any problems (1 year under MH and one year under T5)

Now several years later I still haven't tried one of those tiny guys yet. I would rather spend the extra $20 or so for the better chance of survival.

-- Kevin

 

[Big E]

That sucks for your first experience. When it comes to clams you don't want anything less than about 3" unless you know exactly how to spot feed and care for small clams. Once they are around 2.5" they are sturdier and do not need the intense phytoplankton feedings anymore.

I'm not saying this statement is wrong...........I imagine farmers use phtyo to increase growth at a faster rate, but small clams don't need to be spot fed. Their mantle is completely developed with zoo just like a larger clam & they should have no problem taking in other nutrients like nitrates, which are available in any established system.

My friend bought a maxima clam that was less than 2" & never fed it. It's about 4" now.

I'd put this in the category of people that feed/don't feed corals directly............depends on experience & preference.

 

[Aadler]

Something ate it, it didn't die d/t environmental factors, or at least I would be shocked, it was looking perfectly normal when i left for dinner.

I am just ****ed something had a snack, prolly the darn copperband.

 

[rwp1202]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13211191#post13211191 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Aadler
Something ate it, it didn't die d/t environmental factors, or at least I would be shocked, it was looking perfectly normal when i left for dinner.

I am just ****ed something had a snack, prolly the darn copperband.

There is no question that the Copperband is your guilty party:

From the Saltwaterfish.com website:

Size: 2-4 inches
Care Level: Moderate
Temperament: Peaceful
Reef Safe: Monitor
Diet: Clam
Origin: Indian Ocean
Acclimation Time: 3+ hours
Coral Safe: No

Sorry for your loss. there is nothing worse than being excited about a new addition only to see it disappear in a matter of hours.

 

[pgolnick]

Did the copperband look happy (and a little fatter) when you came back to check on the tank. Sorry for your loss.
Phil

 

[Aadler]

I was watching the copperband when i put the clam in, and he didn't seem to take notice, but he certainly doesnt look angry, even this morning. lmao ;c). Now if he would just finish off my frag meeting acan all would be well in the world.

COYW

 

[Sk8r]

Copperband, I'm betting. That long nose just found something delectable.

 

[Kreeger1]

Sometimes the smaller clams don't have the same strength as adult clams. I had a tank full of clams at one time, I added some small clams and my serpent star fish found out how good they taste I guess. He ripped them apart, after that he moved onto some of the bigger clams. He was banished to the sump.
Do you have a serpent or brittle starfish?

 

[Aadler]

nope, no stars. I will buy a nice gold clam next i guess, see if that works out. :c)