Serpent Star harassing clam

[MeghanisradxD]

We picked up a teeny maxima clam yesterday at the LFS.
I acclimated him yesterday over about 45 minutes and placed him at the bottom of the tank near a rock, so he could anchor his foot safely.

Anyways, this morning, my serpent star keeps grabbing him and pulling him underneath a huge rock (that can't be moved without ripping apart he whole tank)

The LFS told me that the starfish wouldn't be an issue...was I given false info? Maybe the clam isn't doing so well, which is why the star keeps harrassing him?

Not sure if I just made a $60 mistake :headwalls: Guess I wouldn't be the first.

 

[Betta132]

What kind of serpent star?
Try feeding it a big chunk of meaty food and putting the clam in a different spot, the star may just be hungry and/or acting on its grab reflex. If that doesn't work, the clam may not be doing so well and you should probably closely inspect it. A magnifying glass might be helpful.
Can you theoretically place the clam in a strawberry basket with sand and a rock and put the basket up on top of something where the star can't get it?

 

[MeghanisradxD]

I'm not positive on the exact ID of the serpent star. Looks exactly like this guy:

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/...oHrYyFxgn1mv1K9QU6aF6UvRkL4xmMIWRXYuJ_xN3FFvg

We did move the clam further up on the rocks and he seems to have stayed there most of the afternoon and is opening back up. The serpent star hasn't found him, yet.