clam getting eaten???

[kevchev515]

Last night i bought a clam from the local LFS because they said that clams suck nitrates and i have a nitrate problem. This morning i woke up and both of my cleaner shrimp were on top of the clam eating the clam i think! I didn't feed them last night but their stomachs were full. Could this be true, will cleaner shrimps eat clams?

Also there is a milky white film that is coming out of the clam. He has no mantle anymore!

Thanks

 

[Carpentersreef]

Sounds bad, Kev. I hope you didn't pay too much for the clam.
Shrimp in general will eat whatever is available. Feed the shrimp directly, to be sure. I had some peppermint shrimp take out my beautiful Maxima quite a few months ago.

I've since learned to keep EVERYONE well fed in my tank, and not take it for granted that some of the inhabitants are finding food on their own.

Mitch

 

[toptank]

I have heard from other that cleaner shrimp will eat clams, they like the small one better. I have no experence with it as I don't have those in my SPS/clam tank.

Yes clams do like Nitrates but don't depend on them solely to eleimate your nitrates.

Barry

 

[kevchev515]

Thanks for the replies:

Could anybody tell me what i should do with the clam? Will the stuff he is spitting out poison the other inhabitants?

Right now i have him under a plastic soda bottle cut in half to keep the shrimps at bay. I'm thinking about asking the LFS if they will take it back so they could possibly nurse it back to health. I just don't know why they didn't tell me my cleaner shrimps will eat it!

On the plus side i've noticed my shrimp is pregnant again, so the fish will have a nice little feed in about a week.

 

[esmithiii]

Chances are that the clam didn't survive the acclimation and the cleaner shrimp are cleaning up the mess. They will pick it clean.

I kept some small deresas in my tank for a couple of months w/ 2 peppermints and 2 cleaners. They didn't touch the clams until after they died. Then they had a feast.

Ernie

 

[toptank]

I agree with Ernie, they are just doing what they normally do. As in nature that is.

Barry

 

[Carpentersreef]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by kevchev515:
.... I just don't know why they didn't tell me my cleaner shrimps will eat it...!<hr></blockquote>

A good rule of thumb in a reef tank is that it is possible for anybody to eat anything...if hungry enough. Don't blame your LFS. If your clam is still alive, that's great!
Be sure to feed ALL of your inhabitants ASAP.
It's not necessary to return the clam. Keep it under cover, provide lots of light and high water quality, and pray (or hope) (listen to me...it sounds like I go to church or something...) for the best. Your LFS can't do much more.

Mitch

 

[kevchev515]

Just to let you all know i talked to the LFS that sold me the clam and they said that they would give me something else to put in my tank.

Thanks for everybodies input