Murphy's Law...Hermit made a swish into my Squamosa

Jagermeister

Jagermeister

Premium Member
I buddy of mine gave me three scarlet red hermit crabs. I threw them in the tank and watched with trepidation as one floated down, got caught in a current, and headed directly towards my squamosa and then swish!, no rim, right into the opening of the clam. I couldn't believe it.

The clam shut up real tight but now has extended his mantle just a little bit. The opening is still tightly closed.

Is there any way to get the crab out? Will the clam naturally expel the intruder? Or digest it?

Not sure what to do.

Thanks.
 
I have always thought about that possibility. I am going to ride along to see what the results are. Please let us know if behavior changes.
 
I had [in fairly fast sequence] a crab take a dive into the vent of my crocea. The clam then blew him orbital and that was that.Both were fine.

A clam can't digest something that large, I think, but might slime-coat him and try to get rid of him, particularly if he gets where it can 'sneeze' him out. Problem is, he's mobile.
 
oh boy, nothing you can do except hope for the clam to sneeze him out. or you can try to invert him upside down and see if he falls down. that is provided it doesn't completely shut itself.
 
Upside down might be a good idea, if you can get him to open. Even laying him on his side might help to let him open and let that stupid crab have a possible escape route under its own power.
 
I saw a post on clams direct regarding your issue, but the results were never posted.

Although I think most would agree the clam should be left alone, I do want to suggest an idea.

What if you had a good prime of water suction on a 3/8 hose. Then as water is flow is on hold, go into the clam, start the water to flow and pull the hermit out (like the game "operation"). I have collected lost items from under live rock using this, but this might be a rotten idea to use on a clam. I am sure the next 5 posts that slam my idea will be a tell tale sign not to do this.

Also, just the fact that the clam allowed this to happen makes me question the health of the clam in the first place.

One more thing. If you leave the hermit in the clam to let nature take its course, could the crab potentially do some damage by eating the tasty insides of the clam?
 
IMO the best you can do is turn the clam upside down so that the clam is suspended with nothing touching the ground ( held by the shell so it can still open). any time the crab tries to move the clam is going to close. i doubt the clam will be able to expel the crab especially from the inner cavity. clams can close with some force and expel water with some force, however the crab would have to be at the opening of the siphon with the force of the water behind it to be removed.
 
I had the same problem with my derasa and a large size hermit crab, and everytime the crab was trying to get out the clam was shutting close. I waited for the clam to open about 2" then a put a piece of acrilic ( polished on the edges) to keep the clam from closing, then with some luck a was able to grab the shell of the crab and pulled out. To grab the hermit I used long hemostatic forceps ( this are use in medical field). I bought the forceps at a rummage sale, great tool to have. The whole process was done in less than a minute and with good luck. The clam was fine after the crab was removed.
 
The crab in my avatar was the perpetrator. He was a model citizen for long time, but then he started to bother everything in my tank, eating polyps of my sps, zoas, pinching the clam, etc.
he was huge, I moved him down to the sump
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11434874#post11434874 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mbbuna
nothing but net!!
Click to expand...

NICE :thumbsup: :lol2:

try turning the clam upside down and leave it there, see if the hermit doesnt fall out.
 
Update: So I did my part. I turned the clam upside down and swayed and shook him a bit. It was only about two minutes and the clam did his part. Scrunched all up and then whoooooosh!!!!shot the crab out.

Both clam and crab are doing well. :)
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11436425#post11436425 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Jagermeister
Both clam and crab are doing well. :)
Click to expand...



thats great to hear, any pics ????
 
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