Brian.Bentzen
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I woke up this morning to find my Crocea clam filled with 3 nassarius snails. They have taken a pretty good toll on his mantle and I am going to place him in a hospital tank. Wish me luck.
Nassarius snails in my new clam!
- Thread starter Brian.Bentzen
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quicksilverq
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good luck he is proably on his way out. (going to die) sorry to hear that.
Brian.Bentzen
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I have a bad feeling about it too, but I have to at least TRY to keep him alive. It doesn't help that I'm leaving on vacation tomorrow.
quicksilverq
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They dont help clams when there alive they help eat dead flesh or fish like sk8r said undertakers and if thats the case the clam is dead I had that happen to my crocea.
Brian.Bentzen
New member
The clam was alive when I went to sleep... It's still technically alive in the hospital tank. I've startled it a couple of times. I'm leaving for vacation and going to let my housesitter feed the tank. I've got my fingers crossed but my hopes are low for a recovery. The damage to the mantle wasn't horrible, but I wonder what the snails might have damaged that I can't recognize.
I had read in Calfo's "Reef Invertebrates" book that Lysmata (peppermint) shrimp can be predatory to clams, but that shrimp stayed away from the clam all day long.
My theory is that a piece frozen brine shrimp got under the mantle and the snails wanted to get to it... or that the clam was just on its way out anyway... I'll post again in a week when I get back from vacation.
I had read in Calfo's "Reef Invertebrates" book that Lysmata (peppermint) shrimp can be predatory to clams, but that shrimp stayed away from the clam all day long.
My theory is that a piece frozen brine shrimp got under the mantle and the snails wanted to get to it... or that the clam was just on its way out anyway... I'll post again in a week when I get back from vacation.
While they do act like "scavengers", occasionally some will take a chunk out of mantle. I lobbed a couple of cerith snails in a tidepool with a Maxima that I had for about 7 years. The thing is nearly 11 inches long and the cerith snails took chunks of it's mantle; they just healed over.
Also with shrimp, about the only ones that AREN'T a real worry are Lysmata wurdemani. Its cousin, that is nearly identical however, Lysmata rathbunae seems to have a slightly different temperament and will pick at snails at times. The only time I would say most likely a clam is in any real danger from either of the above is if it's inside of 1.5-2 inches or if the shrimp haven't been fed in awhile - by that I mean like over a week.
Does the clam have any other negative signs? Is it falling into the shell, gaping out of either siphon, staying closed for longer then normal periods of time after the lights go on, or staying open for a longer period of time when the lights go out? If no, it will probably be fine.
Also with shrimp, about the only ones that AREN'T a real worry are Lysmata wurdemani. Its cousin, that is nearly identical however, Lysmata rathbunae seems to have a slightly different temperament and will pick at snails at times. The only time I would say most likely a clam is in any real danger from either of the above is if it's inside of 1.5-2 inches or if the shrimp haven't been fed in awhile - by that I mean like over a week.
Does the clam have any other negative signs? Is it falling into the shell, gaping out of either siphon, staying closed for longer then normal periods of time after the lights go on, or staying open for a longer period of time when the lights go out? If no, it will probably be fine.
I don't know what kind of response this may get, but I say no for younger ones - especially younger ones. I said in another post that the byssal threads are constantly decaying, they have no vascular system.
I will also refer to what is actually in the byssal gland as a byssal PLUG because it is neither threads nor is it part of the gland or organ. It is a hard knotty composite that is made of the same substance as the threads however.
Anyways,
The byssal threads are constantly being eaten, picked at, whatever and forming new ones. Ever notice the way that if you are actually able to lift a clam without injuring it, there are bristleworms directly under the clam? It's because the threads and plug are decaying pretty much all the time. I have seen MANY smaller clams get tipped over because a nassarius vibex or cerith snail burrows under them to gain access to a quick snack. It just irritates smaller clams. It most likely will not stress them to the point of death, but I have never chanced it. It’s what I don’t like about hermits, other crabs, shrimp and starfish as well. I have seen nearly every hermit pick at the threads and plug under a clam.
I will also refer to what is actually in the byssal gland as a byssal PLUG because it is neither threads nor is it part of the gland or organ. It is a hard knotty composite that is made of the same substance as the threads however.
Anyways,
The byssal threads are constantly being eaten, picked at, whatever and forming new ones. Ever notice the way that if you are actually able to lift a clam without injuring it, there are bristleworms directly under the clam? It's because the threads and plug are decaying pretty much all the time. I have seen MANY smaller clams get tipped over because a nassarius vibex or cerith snail burrows under them to gain access to a quick snack. It just irritates smaller clams. It most likely will not stress them to the point of death, but I have never chanced it. It’s what I don’t like about hermits, other crabs, shrimp and starfish as well. I have seen nearly every hermit pick at the threads and plug under a clam.
Brian.Bentzen
New member
I bet they are whelks. I looked at Melev's site on how to tell the difference and will have to examine all of the snails in the tank now. I would really love to keep a couple clams, but no point if they are just going to become dinner.
Brian.Bentzen
New member
Just as an update... the clam has passed on.
If it was whelks, and I'm not sure that they were, I'm going to try to get them all out of the tank. If they like clams, I'll give them clams and remove them one at a time.
Has anyone tried using coldwater clams from the grocery store? They are generally still alive and just on ice... These might draw them out and I wouldn't feel too bad if I lost one considering I just grind them up as food sometimes anyway.
If it was whelks, and I'm not sure that they were, I'm going to try to get them all out of the tank. If they like clams, I'll give them clams and remove them one at a time.
Has anyone tried using coldwater clams from the grocery store? They are generally still alive and just on ice... These might draw them out and I wouldn't feel too bad if I lost one considering I just grind them up as food sometimes anyway.
Hey! I have N. distortus and vibex and I have found them both to be predatory. Mine will go after almost every new addition that hits the sand, and have even killed and consumed an injured fireshrimp (which had just escaped the grips of a mantis shrimp that I didn't know I had). The moment that poor shrimp went from the rocks to the sand they were all over it, and it took less than 20 minutes to hollow out it's shell! So it seems to me that Nassarius will not only go after any newly introduced scent, but they can also detect injury.
When I added my first maxima clam, they ALL rose from the sand and attacked it. Having seen what they can do to a living animal, I knew that they were feeding on it, so I moved the calm, which was then and is now still perfectly healthy.
What has since worked for me is putting new additions like clams into a supspended net isolation container until the snails calm down. After a couple of days I place the animal in it's permanent position, at which point, as long as it is not injured, dead, or dying snails do not bother it.
I kinda subscribe to the theory that there really is no such thing as "reef safe". It's just a matter of constantly struggling for balance.
When I added my first maxima clam, they ALL rose from the sand and attacked it. Having seen what they can do to a living animal, I knew that they were feeding on it, so I moved the calm, which was then and is now still perfectly healthy.
What has since worked for me is putting new additions like clams into a supspended net isolation container until the snails calm down. After a couple of days I place the animal in it's permanent position, at which point, as long as it is not injured, dead, or dying snails do not bother it.
I kinda subscribe to the theory that there really is no such thing as "reef safe". It's just a matter of constantly struggling for balance.
Brian.Bentzen
New member
I agree with your "nothing reef safe" idea. Everything in the tank eats something else on the reef. Basically we just want to be sure our showpieces are on the top of the food chain.
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