clam predator + anemone predator?

davidc · 01-08-2005, 07:34 AM

I bought a 1-2" baby maxima last weekend. It was doing great until yesterday (Friday). Thursday night it looked fine, mantle was out fully, it wasn't gaping or anything.

Friday morning it was closed up and the mantle was completely hidden. I didn't think anything of it at the time, but my wife called me that afternoon and said it was still closed up.

When I looked at it that evening, it looked like something had eaten away at the insides. It seemed dead, but I didn't want to be premature about throwing it out (was in denial). I could see into the shell from the bottom, but I could still see a nice colorful mantle inside from the top.

This morning the shell is *completely* empty, minus the tissue connecting the two halves, and still mostly closed.

I haven't seen any of those little predatory snails, but I have seen some 'pods' inside the shell. I believe either the pods or some other small creature had to do this, because the shell never got opened during the process.

What could eat my clam overnight?

My water parameters were tested on Friday as all zeros, but with low alkalinity. I don't think this could be a sudden killer.

davidc · 01-08-2005, 07:39 AM

Also, I had something similar happen to a RBTA anemone from the same store. One day it appeared to have been eaten.

that thread is here: http://www.thereeftank.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=44056

Casey · 01-08-2005, 07:41 AM

You could have just gotten a bad one also babies have to be feed dts at least 3 times a week to live lots of things in the tank will eat a clam hell even people do.
LOL Seriously Im sorry for the loss what lights do you have and what do you feed what else is in the tank?

davidc · 01-08-2005, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Casey

You could have just gotten a bad one also babies have to be feed dts at least 3 times a week to live lots of things in the tank will eat a clam hell even people do.
LOL Seriously Im sorry for the loss what lights do you have and what do you feed what else is in the tank?

I don't think it was a lack of food, because this clam looked very healthy and then suddenly looked bad. I was just feeding Kent Microvert until I could go get some DTs - I only had it about 5 days.

Well, I left the old empty shell in there and spied on it tonight. it was completely full of 'pods' and I saw a bristle worm crawl out of it. It seems my predator is either a bristle worm or my pods.

forgot to mention I have 2 175W MHs with 10000K bulbs. The clam was about 10-12" deep.

Casey · 01-09-2005, 07:00 AM

Its not the pods or bristleworms,remember the 175 MH have the lowest par and he is kinda deep from them,Like I said before lirtle clams need frequent feedings because there mantle is not big enough to absorb enough light for food,I will say you have another predator in the tank you are unaware of,do you have any more clams in the tank?

davidc · 01-09-2005, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Casey

Its not the pods or bristleworms,remember the 175 MH have the lowest par and he is kinda deep from them,Like I said before lirtle clams need frequent feedings because there mantle is not big enough to absorb enough light for food,I will say you have another predator in the tank you are unaware of,do you have any more clams in the tank?

So this little clam could have died in 4 days because of lack of food? It really looked like he was eaten from the bottom, and the shell was still in tact.

I have a 4" crocea in there too. He's on the other end of the tank. He's about 3" higher.

Casey · 01-09-2005, 08:19 AM

Yes he could have. He could have been already weak we dont know how often the store was feeding him and how much clams that small really need to be bowl feed they require more work on our part as there keepers,Im to lazy so I only buy clams 3 in and bigger.

Low alkalinity is another stress factor he was under to. HTHS

Sue Truett · 01-09-2005, 06:19 PM

I was wondering how long the LFS may have had this baby clam. If they had not fed it and then you bought it then it could easily have starved to death. These baby clams have got to be fed either DT's or KoralVit or they will starve. Lighting at this point doesn't matter cause the baby clams mantle is not sufficient to sustain the clam. It relies on phyto completely.

I would have to say I bet the bristleworm was the predator. It may of known the clam was stressing and actively went after the clam. I have had bristleworm's attack my healthy clams. So they will surely go after sick or weakened ones.

Casey · 01-09-2005, 06:22 PM

I have never had a healthy clam attacked by bristleworms only sick weak dying ones,they go in for the cleanup along with hermits are whatever else and I have 33 clams.

pmh · 01-10-2005, 06:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Casey

I have never had a healthy clam attacked by bristleworms only sick weak dying ones,they go in for the cleanup along with hermits are whatever else and I have 33 clams.

Correct! Clams will "look" good for quite a while even though they are dying or stressed. Bristleworms get a bad rap for being preditors, they're not.

pmh

davidc · 01-11-2005, 11:50 AM

I had actually seen this clam for about 3-4 weeks at the LFS. But I would expect this LFS to be feeding it - could be wrong I guess.
Thanks for your replies. I'm taking a peek at my crocea every night now just to make sure there aren't any predators on it