Tang picking on clams

[Lewy]

My blue tang has started to pick on my squammies.

Moving him is out of the question since and I don't want to get rid of him, since I have had him for over 8 years now.

What can I do?

 

[acroconut]

It's really a pain when tangs do that. I have a Chevron that will take a swipe at my big teardrop any time the mood strikes. This bothers the heck out of the clam. The only thing I've found that discourages the tang somewhat is the use of some egg grate strips that act as a physical barricade. Lately I moved the clam closer to the front glass of the tank and have the mantle facing straight forward (instead of upward). It seems the tang doesn't have enough room now to really get a good nip in. Clam has been happy like that now for the past week, so I may be able to get rid of the egg grate at last.

 

[Barry N.]

I don't want to get rid of him

If the tang keep picking at the mantles, then he will not open as much or just close up then you know what will happen.

IMO & IME, you will have to get rid one of them.

 

[Znut Reefer]

I agree with Barry N.

I had a purple tang that killed a very nice beautiful crocea, before I realized the fish was the problem. But he pleaded guilty by going after my other clams. So set up a fish trap and out came the tang. I like my clams alot more than fish. Some fish tend to bother clams and others never do.
So reef safe does not always mean reef SAFE!

The tang now lives in the frag tank. rolleyes:

 

[Lewy]

Thanks for the suggestions.

I have no way of relocating the tand, so will try to make a mesh type cover over them for the time being.

 

[jacob30]

Also you could move the clam to another position in the tank that is not in the Tangs typical swim pattern. This worked for me with a little pygmy angel. He has not bothered the clam since.

 

[Lewy]

I have actually got 4 clams. So rearranging them is a bit of a problem.

 

[rmesola]

4 clams vs 1 tang... tough decision....

had a problem with a cleaner when clam was new... it eventually got better...

try making sure your tang is always well fed by putting enough of his favorite seaweed on the clip at all times.... tangs are "cows of the sea" and like to graze all day long... having more than one clip in different areas won't hurt too...(xpt nitrates maybe)...

my 2 cents

 

[Lewy]

Also had for 8 years as mentioned before and is part of the family.

Been through a lot that fish!!

Just last week I started feeding him more to see how it goes.

 

[acroconut]

I take it that your tang is nipping at all of your clams? That would make things a lot more difficult. I have 4 clams also, but my Chevron only ever wants to target the one clam. He pays no attention what so ever to the others. Now with the big clam closer to the front glass, he's not so interested in trying to nip anymore. Keeping the fingers crossed. In process of setting up 2 new tanks anyway. Planned to move the tang into the bigger tank once it's up and running. Depending on the size of your tang the egg grate seems to work, just doesn't look very nice.