Skunk Cleaner beating up on Crocea.

[Rosseau]

Just as the title says.... my cleaner shrimp has been harassing my crocea almost non-stop since early this morning. The shrimp had barely even noticed the clam in the 2 weeks I've had it until today.

Sadly, the mantle isn't looking so great. I've made a min-defense system for the clam out of the top of a pop bottle.

Hopefully it will come back from this.


I'm just posing to share my experience and I guess to ask if anybody has any tricks for getting the shrimp to lay off?

 

[mbbuna]

sounds like your doing the right thing. did you drill holes in the pop top for water flow?

 

[Rosseau]

I did.... well, hoping that this is only temporary I opened it up with scissors - a pretty ugly job. It will do the trick.

 

[Rosseau]

It's the next day now and it seems that my efforts were too little too late. This tiny clam never had a change against the cleaner....

As much as we can characterize the temperment and compatability of animals with each other we really can't predict it all.



These were my tester clams - and I think I'm hooked.

Is this usual...? Should the shrimp go? Would another one be less likely to do the same?

A few days ago. ^

This morning. ^

I removed the pop bottle and let the shrimp finish off the job...

Last night the clam was able to hold itself closed - this morning it seems to have lost that ability or will to do so.



Ahhh..!

 

[jmaneyapanda]

I dont know dude. I think the shrimp was just doing its job. That clams looks toast. Did you actually see the shrimp pestering the clam when the mantle looked as it did in the first pic?

 

[ezcompany]

from what i've seen, a skunk cleaner is the most likely out of the other 2 (fire and peppermint) cleaners to harass a clam. from the pic it does look like it is just doing its job, but there have been numerous times where a clam has a great chance of coming back from a weakened state (like after a fw dip) but clean up crews prevent it from doing so. i had to protect my clams from hermits, nassarius, and a six-line from ripping them apart. now that the clam is healthy again they leave it alone.

 

[Rosseau]

The first clam picture was taken on Oct. 8

I believe I stressed the animals after moving a lot of rock around and stirring things up (a lot) on Oct. 10

One (or both) clams spawned on Oct. 13


Yesterday, (Oct. 17) I noticed the clam pinching away at the otherwise healthy looking clam as soon as the lights came on in the morning.

It's hard to say.... I agree that there is some stress in this clam's life. However, it appeared healthy (as in Pic #1) and responded to light until the shrimp went to work.


It is strange that the other clam has been left alone. This does make me agree that the crocea may have been on its way out... Though, it appeared to me to be very healthy.


Thanks.

 

[Rosseau]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10999084#post10999084 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jmaneyapanda
I dont know dude. I think the shrimp was just doing its job. That clams looks toast. Did you actually see the shrimp pestering the clam when the mantle looked as it did in the first pic?

Yes.

 

[slant77]

I have 2 cleaners and 2 peps and none of them bother my crocea clam.

 

[Canarygirl]

I had to remove two clams from my larger tank and move to a smaller tank because my cleaner shrimp was harrassing the maxima and a blenny was harrassing the crocea. In my smaller tank they are doing fine.

 

[Rosseau]

For anyone still interested. . .

As you know, nothing in a reef ecosystem (however limited mine may be) goes to waste.

Hermits, shrimp, fish and even corals have all gotten a piece of this poor little clam since its death.

For me, the coolest was to watch my brain devour the bulk of the clam.

Sorry for the poor quality. I had my canopy removed for some maintenance and the only light available was an 8W PC desk lamp.



If anyone was wondering about the size of this clam...

Yes, our quarters are the same size as those to my south!

I may have been doomed from the start with such a small clam, phyto baths?

 

[rydr119]

I had the same problem with a crocea and a skunk cleaner shrimp. Nothing stopped this thing I eventually had to catch the little brat. That was fun but the clam did great after that.