Shrimp attacks clam

[Michaelmarc]

Hey Reefers,
I am looking for some information about shrimps & clams.
Yesterday I put a beautiful blue crocea clam into my tank. It looks great and has adjusted very nicely. Last evening I noticed that one of my peppermint shrimps climbed on top of it and started reapeatedly jamming his front legs into the flesh of the clam. it looked like it was aiming for the large opening. At first I thought maybe it was trying to pick of or clean whatever it could, but then realized it wasn't the cleaner shrimp! Being cautious, I exiled the shrimp to my sump pump, and have been watching closely the other peppermint in the reef, to see if it will also do the same!
Has anyone had this same problem? Was the shrimp looking to eat the clam? Should i remove the other peppermint too?
What else is going to feast on the clam? Crabs....? Flame angel?

I would appreciate any comments/advise about what others have experienced with these critters.
Thanks....
Michael

 

[holeinone1972]

Re: Shrimp attacks clam

What else is going to feast on the clam? Crabs....? Flame angel?

I would appreciate any comments/advise about what others have experienced with these critters.
Thanks....
Michael

Unfortunately, these are all possible predators of clams. There are so many shrimp who look like peppermints, but may be camelbacks.

Are you positive you have peppermints?

How long have you had the clam?

It is possible that your clam is sick or dying. If this is the case, while the clam may look good to you, the shrimp may already smell death, and be cleaning it up.

Flame angels are hit or miss with clams. Crabs are also hit or miss.

Best of luck, Rob

 

[Michaelmarc]

Rob,
Thanks for your reply. I sure hope this is a healthy clam! I just received it yesterday and it looks absolutely perfect. The mantle opens fully with no imperfections. Is there some way to tell if the clam is sick? Because if it is, I can return it to the person I got it from and get a different one. The foot looked very good, which I've heard is important.
I'm 99% sure that my two "red" shrimps ARE peppermints. I referenced them in Sprung's, THE REEF AQUARIUM and what he has pictured is what I have.
I guess all I can do is remove the other one also if I see it attacking it.
Thanks,
Michael

 

[holeinone1972]

If the clam looks good, there is really nothing you can do but wait. Unfortuneatly by the time we see a problem with clams, it is usually too late.

Just keep an eye on things, crabs, shrimp, and angel and see what transpires.

rob

 

[alde]

I have had zero problems with my cleaner shrimp and fire shrimp on my clams but have heard of people having problems with peppermints. I have seen the cleaners walk accross them like they do some of the corals, but never pick at them.

 

[Michaelmarc]

Hey Al,
I've been watching all day off & on and my second pepperment hasn't gone near it. So hopefully he won't be as foolish as his buddy down in the sump!
Thanks for replying.
Michael

 

[MDS]

I had a pair of cleaner shrimp that started to attack a healthy clam that I put into the tank. The shrimp typically were very dosile. I could not understand why they became so aggressive. I was able to catch the shrimp and found out that one was full of eggs.

I concluded that since the pair had eggs, they became aggressive and started to attack the clam.

 

[Pyrrhus]

In Sprungs Invertebrates book he states that the lysmata and lysmatella genus are harmful to small tridacnid clams although i havent had any problem from my peppermint or fire shrimp with my 1.5 inch clam in my nano for the two months i have had the clam...pyrrhus

 

[sreefs]

I had to remove two peppermints because they constantly picked at a clam I had for six months. That was over a year ago clam is doing great.

 

[Pyrrhus]

well i need to correct myself the fire shrimp nearly lost a claw reaching into my derasa and is continuing to harass the other corals in my tank by climbing on them if he doesnt stop he will be banished from my nano very soon.