Several clams lost in the past 2 months--culprit found

[Travis]

Over the last couple months I have been losing my clams 1 by 1. I've never had problems with clams dying and I just couldn't figure out what was going on. I purchased some new clams about 3 months ago so I thought one of them had introduced a disease into the tank. I started out with around 13 clams and only have 5 left right now. A couple days ago I finally found out what was going on. My foxface rabbitfish Siganus vulpinus was nipping at one. Over the next couple minutes I saw him nip at 3 different clams. He wasn't just taking a single nip at each one either. He would nip at each clam a good 10-15 times before moving on to the next one.:eek2: I immediately made an eggcrate cage to keep the clams separated from the rabbitfish until my liverock is done cooking in my new tank and I can move my fish into it.

The rabbitfish's mouth isn't strong enough to take chunks out of the clams, which is why I couldn't figure out what was happening. He was just irritating them to the point where they would retract their mantles way into their shells and fail to open completely. This would keep them from getting the light they needed to stay alive.

NOTE: This is just my experience with a single foxface rabbitfish. I'm not telling anyone not to buy one and put it into a clam tank or to get their foxfaces out of their tanks with clams. Rather I'm just sharing my experience so others are aware of the potential problems that could develop between a foxface and clams.

 

[Barry N.]

Have heard that from other as well.

 

[Charlie Davidson]

I have had same problems with - a MGS clown (easy to spot damage- big chunks missing in mantel), and a black sailfin blenny! I am glad you found the problem, it also took me some time on the sailfin because it nipped just enough to make the clams keep closed. I guess the clams starved to death ,unable to get enough light.
Because I have not been abile to catch the blenny yet, the clams were moved into another tank and they are doing great!!!

 

[john76]

I had a coral beauty that did the same. I lost a small max before I could catch him.

 

[AQUAN8TOR]

I obtained my purple tang from a friend whose clam it would not leave alone. I witnessed it nipping relentlessly at the mantle.

I will note that this fish, as well as Travis' foxface, isn't known for nipping at clams. Years ago I had a coral beauty that nipped a squam, but I won't ever put a coral beauty in my tanks again.

 

[AQUAN8TOR]

Just wanted to add one more thing. I recently learned of a friend's derasa which was lost not to nipping but to starvation. A majestic angel, which is sometimes safe, sometimes not, took an interest in the clam. He never nipped it in front of myself or my friend, but his interest kept the clam somewhat closed up most of the time. The clam was less than 12" from a 250w halide, but that still wasn't enough.

 

[Scuba Dog]

Travis


just courious how you have your clam tank set up. I will be plumbing one into my existing 75 gallon sps reef within the next two weeks...some first hand experience would be nice!

 

[Travis]

Scuba Dog, My 75 crashed back in February and I lost all of my corals. My clams and fish are being held in that tank until my new 280 sps tank and 45 clam tank are ready (live rock should be done cooking in the next 2 weeks).

The display tank is an in-wall tank that is viewed from the family room in the basement. The sump is in the fish room in the basement. The 45 clam tank with 45 degree viewing panel is upstairs in the living room. Both tanks share the same sump. The return pump is an Iwaki 100 which pushes water through the chiller and then tee's off so that some of the water goes to the clam tank and the rest goes to the display. Pretty simple setup. All I have left to do for the clam tank is hang the DE pendant. Check my website as I will post pics of it in the next couple days after I get the pendant hung.

 

[Travis]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. It seems that some fish just don't get along with clams. I'm glad my clam tank will be ready soon. The only fish that will be going into that tank is a yellow coris wrasse to control pyramidellid snails.

 

[Scuba Dog]

bummer sorry to hear about the crash! What 250 bulb are you going to use I have been wrestling around with that choice...ill either go with a 14k hamelton or spend the extra bucks and get the 14.5 geisman sp....would love an aquaconnect 14 k but thats a hard bulb to come acrost. here is a link to a thread that has a pic of my tank, its the one being loaded into the back of the car, I havent sen it in person yet had to work and some reef club members / friends brought it down to me...
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=445725

 

[Travis]

I will be using a 14k hamilton. I thought about the aquaconnect too but didn't want to fork over the $$ for it or have to be on a waiting list. Hopefully the price on them will come down and there won't be any more waiting lists in the future as supply increases.

That is one SWEET looking tank. Double angled viewing panes!!!! How many gallons is it? What degree angles are the viewing panes? Send me some pics when you get it up and running.

 

[Scuba Dog]

Its about 57 gallons...34 x 30 x 13 tall...glass.....not sure of the angel degree...paid 150 bucks for it new....the lfs there makes them...I think it was listed for 200 dollars but they quoted me 150 and thats what they charged...exotic tropicals out of Rogers Arkansas....Im waiting till I pick it up next week...need to figure out some plans to build a stand still....and I want to measure the overflow box so I can figure out what submersable pump to use ...and some flex line...Any idea what pump I should use? probally will have about 3 to 4 feet of head pressure but thats a generous estament...and then agen its clams and they need moderate medium flow...so im still not sure ...

 

[Travis]

I'd say you got a heck of a deal on that tank. I got mine used for $150. Then I had to pay another $50 for shipping. Then I get it and find out its all scratched up so I paid another $50 for acrylic refinishing items like buffer and micro mesh. Then I spent a whole weekend restoring the tank. If I could do it again I would just get a new one.

Can't really offer any suggestions on a pump. There are just way too many to choose from. I'm just running around 2 -3 turnovers per hour through my clam tank. Hard to say if it is enough as I don't have the clams in it yet but I think it will be plenty. Clams don't really need much flow. If I end up needing more flow I can just open the gate valve a bit and get as much as I want.

 

[Scuba Dog]

Sorry to hear that you had to use a lot of elbo greese on that tank...but it does make sence to get an adjustable pump or be able control flow with a simple valve...might goahead and put a check valve in it whyle im at it....since ill be using the same sump...and a small one at that...

 

[thedogofwar]

Hey Scuba,

since it's sitting here I picked up the dimensions you were looking for.

The glass sits at @ 20deg

of the overflow stretches clear to the top and is 7.25"x4" 17 1/8" wide slots extending down 1.75"

2-1.5" holes

 

[Scuba Dog]

thanks Brandon, sounds like james built it right...i like 2 and a half inch holes....

 

[thedogofwar]

no that 2 1.5" holes. I guess thats for 3/4" BHs

 

[Scuba Dog]

Oh i guess ill figure something out, just need to get a pump that can be pinched back some if necessary.....

 

[Lunchbucket]

ok, i witnessed my foxface do this to my clam tonight. i have noticed what looked like some nips gone out of the mantle but i have seen that look before and it was nothing.. i have been watching a TON to see if anyone was touching my ONLY clam. i added a flame angel (a month or 2 ago) and though that would be it but NEVER saw anyone nip it. tonight the foxface just took one nip right in front of me on a 1/2 open clam....i put a piece of nori in there to feed him and hope to stop the behavior.

now what should i do? take the foxface out? or just keep him better fed? i have been reducing feedings in the tank in hopes to help drop my phosphate and wishing that the foxface would eat some bubble algae.

now i am scared i will loose my clam

i can build an eggcrate cage AFTER i have my x-mas w/ my family tonight...so a good 3 hours from now. and i can get my foxface out NEXT weekend.

what is everyones suggestions?
thanks
Lunchbucket

 

[Peabody]

I hate to hear this. I've heard many reports of Foxfaces, bi-color blennies, and angels doing this. The worst thing is it often goes unnoticed for a long time, even with the most astute tank watcher.

Good luck with your clams, guys!