Tridacnid Jail  6/5/06
Hi all
<Hello.>
Maybe it is a stupid question sorry..
<No worries.>
The tank 100 gallon with angelfish and 1 juvenile tridacnid clam with the refugium full of kelp. I know I can't mix them both, the clam will be nipped by the angelfish and eventually will die.
<Depends on exact angel species, but yes good idea to separate the two if at all possible.>
But I love the clam so I covered the clam with the tin (you
know the tin for soldering the electronic component just like wire). so the question: Is the tin safe in the sea water?.
<I wouldn't use it, use something like a small (but clear) Rubbermaid container to crate the clam.>
so far my angelfishes avoid that clam and it works.
Thanking you in advance
Best regards
Ignatio
<Adam J.>

Missing Bivalves  - 02/20/06
Hello WWM crew,
<Mike>
A couple of weeks ago I went to feed my Flame Scallop (deep in a cave)
<Where Lima, Limulus species are often found in the wild...>
and found an empty shell. I didn't really think too much of it. Last night I fed my 3" Maxima Clam which was perched on a low rock. I came
home for lunch today and noticed something knocked it off the rock. Not too unusual as it hadn't attached yet and my 6" Lawnmower Blenny is
real clumsy. After work I  went to put it back and found it empty!
<Yikes!>
Tank:
75 gallon, 20 gallon sump, 10 gallon refugium, 100+ lbs. live rock, live sand bed,  2 x 400W MH lighting, SPS, LPS, all healthy/growing.
Tankmates: pr. Maroon Clowns, large BTA, med. Yellow Tang, med. Clown Fairy Wrasse, Scooter Blenny, Target Mandarin, Lawnmower Blenny,
Watchman Goby, Scarlet Cleaner Shrimp, Coral Banded Shrimp, Pistol Shrimp (new), various snails, slugs, Emerald Crabs (2), 30+ hermits (1
large red legged), and thousands of Pods. Any ideas?
Thanks,
Mike
<Mmm, to be "all gone" is odd here, given the list of animals provided... the most likely culprit would be the CBS, Stenopid... but only if the tridacnid were impaired, it were very hungry... the Pen Shell doesn't have much "to it"... could have just died, dissolved. Bob Fenner>

Help Condy Killing Spree  - 2/15/2006
Hello, thanks for the wonderful site!
I have a Condylactis anemone, recently the Condy attached itself to one of my clams.  I can't seem to get the anemone to release to separate them at
opposite ends of the tank.  Is there any tricks out there to get Condys to release? <I would just get a butter knife and try to pry it away from the clam! IanB>
Best,
Bryan

Re: Help Condy Killing Spree  - 2/15/2006
Someone suggested a thin credit card, I found an old hotel room key, cleaned
it up and it worked great.
Thank you
Bryan
<Ah! "VISA, everywhere you want to be". Bob Fenner>

Clam Being Attacked by Nassarius Snails?   1/31/06
Hi there-
<Greetings>
Let me start by adding my thanks to you and your crew there.  By far, you are the best and most complete resource for this kind of info.  Two years
ago, when we first started our tank, our ultimate goal was to have a clam or two.  So we invested in great halides and have mostly corals and worms in
our 50 gal tank (two fish--a percula and a magenta Dottyback).  We still have all of our original feather dusters, and seem to have cycled through
the various stages that indicate an established tank.  Our feather dusters are beautiful and soft-looking, so we were ready to buy a clam.  We set up
our quarantine tank and selected a 3" maxima from the LFS.  It was in beautiful shape, and seemed to accept the acclimation process very nicely.
<So far so good...>
We went out for a couple of hours, and when we got back, if you can believe it, our heater exploded.
<Yikes!>
The temperature had gone from 79 to 83, and the clam looked like it had deflated.  I was sick about this.  I slowly
readjusted the temperature, and installed a new heater, which I then watched until I was sure it was calibrated to holding at 79-80.  The next day, the
clam did not look any better, but was still alive.
<Such challenges take a while (days, weeks) for invertebrates, most fishes to recover completely from>
I did a 25% water change (as I do almost everyday when I have someone in quarantine).  I followed
this pattern for 6 more days, and the clam was actually recovering. Yesterday, it's full colors were displayed again, and the gaping had reduced
to smaller than a dime.  I was very hopeful.  Well, I went to check on it in the afternoon, and one of the Nassarius snails was on its mantle.  I picked
it off and removed it from the tank.  An hour later, I looked at the clam again (I know I'm obsessing over it), and there were two more snails on it,
and I could not spot the fourth one that lived in the tank.  Then I realized it had actually climbed inside of the clam!
<Can, yes>
The clam looked very distressed, so I picked off the outside snails waiting their turn to get inside, and then used a Mysis shrimp dangling from a pair
of tweezers to lure out the other one (which worked very quickly).  The clam after all this, looked terrible again.
This morning, it looks better, but the end where the snails were is still retracted, maybe even missing.  At last, here are my questions.  1) I have
found no research to suggest these snails are incompatible with clams.  Are they?
<Mmm, generally are fine together... but if hungry, the clam in distress... can/will "cross over the line">
Will I need to remove these snails from my main tank once the clam is in (assuming it makes it)?
<Probably not...>
2)  What were the snails after?
<The clam itself... food>
Did they detect some dying tissue on the clam?  
<Oh yes... they are very perceptive re>
This doesn't make sense to me, because they left it alone when it really looked bad, and only went after it when it was recovering.
<As it would seem apparently...>
3) Do you think the snails did damage while in there?
<Not much if the animal is still alive... this is more of a question or example of linear vs. a strict "consequential-chain law" thinking... That is, while the clam was distressed, the snails were receiving more of a signal that it was a food source... not "A" then "B">
  I suppose the answer to this Q is that time will tell.  Thanks very much for your help.
--Jill
<Thank you for writing. Bob Fenner>

The Clam Swallowed my Clownfish!  The Case of the Missing Clown - 11/30/05
Hello,
<Hello Wendy>
Just want to say I love your website, very informative. Now here is my predicament, I purchased my first fish (Percula Clown) 2 days ago. The other morning the clam (hitch hiker from live rock, who has never moved from his spot under the live rock for 5 weeks) is out in the middle of the aquarium sitting in the sand with the fish hovering over top of him. I thought this was kind of strange 
<Me too>
but the Clown did not look stressed so I went to work. When I got home from work the Clown was gone, I searched for 2 hours and could not find a body anywhere. Since there is nothing else in the tank beside dime size crabs, it had to be the clam.
<Not entirely convinced here.... I've seen a clam briefly trap a slow/unwary/not-too-bright fish, but not consume. Clams are filter-feeders, not piscivores. 
<<But John, haven't you seen those movies where the clam clamps down on the diver's leg, thus ensuring that he will drown once his air runs out?  Marina>>
I assume you checked behind, under, in rocks for signs of your clown? Or on the floor around the tank? Perhaps your clown expired and was consumed by scavengers (crabs)? Or, possibly, an as-yet-unseen predator could be at work. Perhaps the same one that moved the clam?>
<<Or the carpet.. could have gone a-carpet surfing!  MH>>
I tried to open up the clam but could not without doing damage. Do you know how to do this without hurting the clam?
<I don't think you can.>
Regards 
<Kind regards, John>
Wendy Worman 

The Clam, It Swallows my Fish!  Don't Blame the Clam  12/1/05
Hi John,
Thanks for your response. To answer your question, when I said I searched for 2 hours I wasn't kidding, all rock was taken out, all hoses, filters and skimmer searched. I also know that Clown fish are jumpers so yes I looked all around the outside of the tank. I am thinking any predator in my tank is very tiny, no way could they consume an entire fish in 8 hours.
<You'd be surprised. Do a search through WWM for Mantis shrimp. Not saying that is definitely your issue here, but it serves as a good example.>
I know a clam swallowing a fish sounds crazy, but that is the only conclusion I can come up with. Is there any other type of shell fish that could possibly consume a fish? I do not want to put any more fish in the tank until this mystery is solved, any other suggestions would be welcomed before I open up the clam.
<I'd be willing to wager you find nothing. At any rate... a day on from the event, no benefit to prizing this filter feeder open.>
Thanks again,  Wendy 
<You're welcome... I hope you solve the mystery. John>

BTA And Clams? - 09/25/05
Hi WWW Crew
<<Hello>>
Well here's my questions, when you say you should feed the BTA Anemones what should I feed them and how often.
<<Diced meaty foods (shrimp, clams, etc.)>>
And also could I mix BTA's with other anemones?
<<Nope>>
Also could I keep ant T. clams with anemones in a 60 gallon with 260 watts of pc lighting.
<<I wouldn't...though it has nothing to do with the lighting.>>
Thanks in Advance
<<EricR>>

Tridacnid compatibility mainly  9/23/05
Hello, I bought a crocea clam 2 wks ago I was reading your articles and was thinking are bumble bee snails and alga eating crabs the small ones you buy in stores 6-8 for $10.00 a possible risk to the clam? eating wise? and scarlet cleaner shrimp?
thank you, from R.G.
<These are minimal risks. Please read on WWM re all these species, groups stated compatibility. Bob Fenner>

Boxfish  9/19.5/05
Would an Ostracion Meleagris boxfish constantly harass
Tridacna clams?  Just checking compatibility...
Thanks! <They are supposed to be safe.  Keep in mind they can release toxins when disturbed.  Have you looked here yet?  http://www.wetwebmedia.com/boxfshbehfaqs.htm  James (Salty Dog)> <<RMF would not place tetraodontiform fishes with tridacnids period...>>

Tridacna Clams And PC Lights - 08/23/05
Hello crew,
<<Howdy>>
I have been looking into getting some Tridacna clams for my aquarium but I have a two questions.  First, I have a 75 gallon tank (18H, 18W, 48L) w/ 8 65 watt PC lights (4 actinic & 4 WT day) and 8 LED moonlights.  Is this enough light to keep Tridacna clams healthy?
<<Tis possible...but I would recommend either ALL daylight bulbs (6500K or 10000K...your choice), or; if you must have blue lighting, no more than 2 Actinic bulbs with 6 daylight bulbs.>>
I know metal halide lights are best but with all the money I put into the lights I have right now, I'd rather not have to go get new lights.
<<Keep the bulbs "fresh" and close to the water's surface, and go with T. derasa and/or T. maxima and they'll likely do fine.>>
Second question, I currently have a brittle starfish in my tank and I have heard that they eat clams. Is this true?
<<Not in my experience/estimation.  I have always kept brittlestars in conjunction with clams...I've never seen nor heard of a brittlestar attacking a "healthy" Tridacna clam...any perceived predation was likely a result of the star "cleaning up" on an already doomed specimen.>>
Thanks
<<Regards, EricR>>

Long Nose Butterfly 7/28/05
Hey guys, just checking in with a quick question I didn't see in the FAQ's.
The common long nose butterfly: Forcipiger flavissimus, is it considered safe around Tridacna clams? Just another potential stocking scenario. I understand that they will eat frozen clam in small enough bites for them, but haven't been able to find any cases or experiences of whether they'll rip the pieces themselves off the live version. Thanks! <Personally, I wouldn't trust any butterflies with clams.  Some people have gotten away with it but the percentage is low.  James (Salty Dog)>
Nick

Clams and dwarf angels? II 11/29/04
Oh no...he's already in my display tank. I had to put him there because the QT tank had some weird water chemistry problem and keeps driving down the pH.
<never ever forego QT my friend... its critical!>
I moved 3 all fish to my display (royal Gramma,
6-line and eibli). I should have put the eibli in my sump but I didn't think of it then...shoot.
<the sump is still not good/safe enough.... QT always and only without exception>
I've been observing the eibli and most of the time he was nibbling on the rocks (plenty). Once in a while he will harass my clam but he pretty much leaves everything else alone, including the zoos.
<sigh... wait for some months>
There is one exception though, I see that he nibs on some of my SPS occasionally...particularly a orange
Monti digitata and a Pocillopora. Is he able to do any damage to them?
<in an aquarium with repetitive hits, they will die time>
I realize the polyps on the Monti are too small and short but is much more longer on the other...How do I get him out now if I have
to?
<do research the archives for "trapping fish"... some great tips and tricks>
I'm thinking of putting a larger flame angel in there to "tame" the eibli down.
<OMG... please do not. This is a horrifyingly bad solution. Its not even really a viable solution>
My bad that I assumed all Centropyge are pretty much the same as the flame, which in my experience is pretty reef safe...what do I do now since I don't wanna lose my SPS's?...Anthony, anybody, please help!
<QT without exception... and know that you have been lucky re: the "safety" of Centropyge... they are risky long term. Anthony>

Clams and dwarf angels...
folks @ WWM,
I need to find out how compatible are clams with an EIBLI angel. He is
under quarantine now but I intend to put in together with the clam. I
also love flame angels. I saw Anthony answering a similar question so I
hope he can shed some light here. Thanks in advance...
<Most Dwarf Angel species/individuals will leave tridacnids alone, though they can nip them at times. Bob Fenner>

Clam, tankmate, skimmer Y/N questions
Hi Mr. Fenner,
<Hello there Tammy!>
First of all I wanted to say I read your book the Conscientious Marine
Aquarist and I loved it.  It is so informative for the new hobbyist which is
what I am.
<Glad you found it of use>
My name is Tammy.  I know you probably get tons of emails a day so if you
are to busy I understand but if you have time would you please write back to
me.
I do plan on reading more about marine fish before I start my tank but I had
some questions if you have time to answer.  I did as you said and have
thought of the fish and invertebrates I would love to have and would just
like to know if they would work together.  I definitely want to have a clam.
  I know you say to start with a fish only tank but that holds no interest
for me. I have had freshwater fish for about 11 years.  I got my first tank
when I was ten and have always had fish.  I want to do more and
invertebrates just so captivate me that they seem like a good step.
<You sound like you're more than ready!>
  I know
clams are not very easy but you listed some for the beginner and that is
what I plan to begin with.  Now in your book you do not mention good tankmates for clams..........just bad.
<Ahh, welcome to our site (WetWebMedia.com). Please read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/tridaccompfaqs.htm>
So I would like to know if there are any
good shrimp or crabs that would work with them.
<Several smaller species, families of shrimps... not many crabs>
  Also my husband has to have
some fish so I would like to know if Clown fish and Damsels would work well.
<Yes>
  Through reading I would think
  they would but maybe I misunderstood some of the book or am just not
remembering correctly.  Lastly a co-worker (I work for a large pet store)  
told me that if I use a lot of live rock for a reef type set up that I would
not have to have a skimmer.  I don't believe that was he is saying is true
because again from reading your book you seem to for sure recommend them but
I just had to ask.
<At some point, in well-balanced systems with LR, one can get by w/o a skimmer, but I WOULD definitely get/use one for the first several months... show your co-worker the gunk it takes out!>
I know this is a lot of questions and I know some of
them probably seem stupid and I should have the answers after reading your
book but if you have time I would really love to hear back from you.
Thank you so much for you time,
Tammy
<Nice to have made your acquaintance. Bob Fenner>

Sixline wrasse to consume bristle worms
hi,
I know bristle worms attack clams, so I intend to put a 6-line wrasse in
the tank to protect it. Will he try to feed off from the clam also?
<< No, six line wrasse are very clam safe.  You may want to keep the clam off the bottom of your tank if you are worried about worms. >>
<<  Blundell  >>

Upside down jellyfish 9/8/04
hello.
<howdy>
I have been planning on making a clam tank and have been designing it for over a month. then I saw an article talking about the upside down jelly fish. and I admit it, I want one. The tank it would go into will be shallow with a wide bottom, gentle current flow, and bright lights. the only problem is, according to the article, they secrete their stinging cells in their mucus, and it can kill other animals in the tank.
<they really do best in a species tank.  muddy lagoonal set up would be nice. Do consider some Thalassia sea grasses too for the biotope>
my question is, are clams vulnerable to the stinging of the upside down jelly fish?
<they would be a very unnatural combination and the clams might easily outcompete the jellies as filter feeders. Not recommended. Please do consider setting up a natural display>
No dolphins were harmed in the making of this email.  I did have to kill a few baby seals though.
<ahhh... OK, Club Happy in Boise. Just Happy in Pgh - Anthony :)>

Mixing zoanthids with clams 5/10/04
Hello
<howdy>
I have had a 50 gallon clam tank for about 6 months before that I had a mixed reef for 2.5 years. My filtration includes a 50 gallon refugium, part one is Caulerpa and part 2 is xenia.
<interesting>
I want to introduce some zoos to the tank, but I am worried that the clams and zoos may not get along well. Is that true, will there be a chemical warfare in the tank? Thanks for your time, Zack Schwartz
<no worries on mixing the clam with cnidarians like the zoanthids. Tridacnids seem indifferent to most such neighbors. Your bigger risk by far is the noxious Caulerpa polluting the system if mismanaged. Do consider a more stable and better algae like Chaetomorpha or Gracilaria. Anthony>

Clams and bad ol blenny!!  3/25/04
We just bought two 4 inch electric crocea clams.  When I first put them in the tank they opened up and looked happy.  Then my two lawnmower blennies started picking at them and they will not open. I tried several times to get the blennies  out  but there hiding in the rock.  Crazy fish attack the clam and then sit there right in front of the glass on top of the clam just staring at me as to say nanny nanny booo you cant catch me.  As soon as I get the net he flees under the rocks. I’ll have to remove the rocks to catch him and this will disturb other critters.  Can these blennies do harm to the clam?  Do I need to remove the blennies what ever it takes? I avoided a lovely flame angel that I wanted badly but I knew  it might  pick at  the clams  so I choose  a Naso tang :)
<Many fish are risky with clams, including blennies, angels and butterflies.  You will need to remove either the clam or the fish or else the fish will irritate the clam so much that it will not open and get the light it needs and it will die.>
I didn’t know I already had two nightmare fish.  Also, how about emerald crabs and hermit crabs?   They seem to eat things I don’t want them eating.  Is it best to have few or no emeralds if you have coral?  How about the hermits they get on the clams and everything in  the tank  can they do  damage ?
<Personally, I consider ALL CRABS to be too destructive for reef tanks.  They all have the potential to be quite destructive.>
I also just got some more live rock it had one of those Aiptasia unwanted anemones on it.  What’s the best way to remove it?  Thanks so much for your help :)
<If you can get to the base, the best way is to simply scrape it off with a knife and remove it.  If you can’t get to the base, try injecting it with concentrated Kalkwasser paste.  Best Regards.  Adam>

Clam, Anemone Tank
You guys rock,
<Thanks!>
First off the website is awesome, I have learned so much, I recently pulled
all of the coral and fish out of my 55 gal reef, and had planned on setting
up a rose BTA tank with about five rose's in it (its really hard to find info
on anemone only tank set ups),
<Sounds good.>
I have since thought about putting several clams in as well, will the
anemones release too many toxins to keep clam in the tank?
<Anemones will not have any chemical warfare with tridacnid clams. Instead, I would be worried about physical warfare; make sure the anemones do not come in contact with the clams at any time.>
the tank is about 20" tall with a 6" sand bed. and I run 2 175w MH 10000k
about 6" from the surface is this enough light to keep the clams on the sand
bed,
<They'll do fine on the sandbed. However, keep in mind that some clams such as the T. crocea and T. maxima are rock boring clams and will attach their byssal gland to some surface. I would recommend putting them on top of an empty shell on the sandbed. When the clams attach to the shell, you may burry the shell giving the appearance that the clams are placed directly on the sandbed.>
I have two 110w VHO that I could also put on. would this be to much
light is there such a thing?
<You're far from your limit -- you do not have too much light.>
If so what VHO bulbs so I use (true actinic
50/50's etc.)?,and for the clams could i just put a piece of acrylic under
the sand in the area I want them to be for their foot? If so how far under
should it be buried?
<That will also work well as using the empty clam shells. You may burry the clam about 1/2 into the sandbed. As an example, a clam 2" high (I'm not referring to the length of the clam, but instead the space between the foot and the mantel o the clam) would be buried around 1" in the sandbed. A clam 1" high would be buried about .5" in the sandbed. A clam 3" high would be buried around 1.5" in the sandbed. Of course, there are many exceptions and you do not have to burry the clams at all if you do not wish to. T. squamosa, T. derasa and T. gigas will do fine simply left on top of the sand.>
Thanks
<Take Care, Graham.>
Will

- Algae Blenny: Clam Nipper? -
I was just about to buy  rock (lawnmower?) blenny when I read that they nip at clam mantles. How true is this? <They occasionally do, most that I've encountered behave themselves. Make sure you supply lots of algae!> Also, will they be aggressive with a yellow headed jawfish? <Should be fine, Good luck! -Kevin>

DBL SADL BF and Maxima Clam? 6/4/03
Good Afternoon Guys!
<howdy!>
Thanks again for the passion and attention to this hobby!!!
<our pleasure truly>
I know Butterfly Fish are categorized as suspect with corals.
<a wide range of invertebrates can be food/fodder in fact.. sponges, ascidians, mollusks, etc>
I have a lovely Dbl Saddle. Can I put a Maxima Clam in our 55 gallon tank with him?
<not recommended... more than a small risk>
Is it a case of feeding the BF so he won't make a blue plate special out of our Maxima?
<alas, no... even with 5 feedings daily, that still leaves many waking hours of natural grazing/foraging behavior>
Thanks, C Evans
<best regards, Anthony>

A Clan For His Clams...
Thank you for all your help in the past.
<Our pleasure!>
I have recently set up a 30 gal refugium tank in line with my 75 gal reef tank I set it up with a 6 inch deep live sand bed and 175 watt metal halide with 2 x 55 watt actinic pc lights. I plan to stock it with a few tridacnid clams and soft corals. What fish tank mates would you recommend for this size of tank that won't decimate my sand bed in-fauna? I heard the six line wrasse and juvenile coris are good for control of parasitic snails. I have also entertained thoughts of farm raised seahorses. Your suggestions are greatly appreciated. Sincerely, C.S. Blashko
<Yep- I tend to favor small Fairy wrasses, cardinal fishes, and possibly some mid-water-swimming blennies, such as the Meiacanthus species. Also, you may want to look into a Pseudochromis, as most of them are colorful, remain small, and offer some of the same benefits as the sixline wrasse. They also have the added good characteristic of not destroying your infauna! Lots of choices here! have fun perusing about on the wetwebmedia.com site for more research! Good luck! Regards, Scott F>

Clams and Dwarf angels 3/14/03
I would like to know if my maxima clam can live with my lemon peel angel and flame angel can you give me a rate where 1 is the lowest & 10 is the highest on the safety of my clam and/or 2 angels. Thank you
<I would rank the lemon peel as a 3/4 (rather risky) and the flame as a 7/8 (rather reef-safe). The lemon peel with other reef invertebrates like coral however is even more dangerous. Some behave, but most are nibblers. They are one of the first dwarf angels to rule out of a reef tank when considering the genus. Best regards, Anthony>

Alas... Shrimps will nibble clams 3/14/03
Hello Bob et al,
<cheers, mate>
My Tridacnid is doing well but for one problem.  It has decided that it likes its placement on my reef and has attempted (a couple times) to attach via its byssal thread/tissues.  Unfortunately, my Lysmata amboinensis feel that this byssal production is a gift from the heavens and pulls it free to dine upon it!!  I've placed small pieces of rubble around the clam's shell, enough to protect it, but not to impede on its ability to open and close at
will, however, the shrimp excavate and harvest with little problem.
Is this going to hurt the clam?  
<unfortunately... many/most shrimp will nibble and eat clams. It is well-documented in popular aquarium literature. A few behave, but most will nibble>
Should I get rid of my efficient cleaner shrimp?  
<yes, indeed... with the clam in residence>
Any advice is greatly appreciated.
PS.. Bob, Anthony, Steven, Jason, David...heck.. all of you are
wonderful.  Thanks for all that you do for this community!
David
<thanks kindly for saying so :) Best regards! Anthony>

Paper, clams, corals - 3/18/03
My question may sound simple but I  am about to buy my first clam or two. <Good for you. Do as much research about their environmental conditions and needs for successful keeping> My question is can corals hurt the clam's mantel if placed too close? <Absolutely! If not from direct contact to the tentacle, then just by close proximity through chemical release of toxins. Definitely keep them away from corals at a minimum of a 3 inches or more minimum.> I have nice place picked out for one or two  2-4"  clams but I also have a torch coral near by. <Definitely too close to this coral as the torch has the ability to sting quite severely as part of its procurement for food as well as an offensive and defensive strategy for territory. I just talked to Barry Neigut of ClamsDirect.com and he stated in his experience clams are very susceptible to chemical allelopathy and physical damage from sweeper tentacle nematocysts. "Keep a good amount of distance is the best policy"> If he grows well and so do the clams will it hurt the mantel if stung by the torch. <Absolutely! See previous note> Same goes for tube worms such as a feather duster. It is near some Xenia. Will it kill the feather duster? <Hmmm...... I would use a minimum of 3 inches if you can. Xenia can be very toxic. Congratulations on the new clams. Paulo>
Thanks
David

Clam help
Hi to all, I received an order today from FFE with a clam and a LPS coral. I currently run a reef aquarium with clams and a mix of soft and hard corals. All is fine including the new LPS coral. Although the new clam isn't so fine, after eight hours of being in my tank I noticed my Sally Lightfoot and a hermit crab
<neither are categorically "reef safe" for the record. Many random problems reported with these and most all omnivorous crabs in the long run>
are picking and eating at the little clam. It now is turning white towards the rear and not looking so well. These guys have never bothered the clams that have been in my tank and like I said the new LPS coral is looking great. What is wrong? 
Why are they doing this to the new clam? Are they being rude, or was there an underling problem I didn't know about and there just taking care of it? Please help. Thank you so much...
<the clams sounds like it is stressed, weak or dying... perhaps shipped badly or simply was sent to you after recent (hours) import and has been traveling for many days, week or longer. Still... it is giving off the international signal for lunch. Keep it on the bottom (please tell me that you didn't start it high up... if so, read the acclimatization article on Wet Web Media at http://www.wetwebmedia.com/acclimcoralslight.htm) and perhaps put a mesh net or other guard over it to screen it from the omnivores while it stabilizes. Best regards, Anthony>

Strange thing growing on clam shell
Mr. Fenner and staff,
<cheers, my friend>
My Tridacna clam has something growing on its shell. I can see around 6 of them growing on various parts of the shell. I took a picture and have attached the file. Do you think I should pick them off with my fingers?
<before you go molesting harmless reef invertebrates please re-send the picture. It did not come through>
Is it okay for the clam to be out of the water while I do this? Please let me know ASAP if I should take it out. I want to do it before it hurts my poor clam. Thanks. Robert
<clam shells are designed to attract (!) commensal and cryptic growth by design. It is extremely unlikely that the growth is harmful. Sponges, tunicates, etc are common... to be grazed at best (by the fishes... not you unless you are really hungry. Best regards, Anthony>

Tridacna clam and stinging neighbors?
Hello !
<cheers!>
I have tried to find the answer to this matter in the literature, but failed so far. Are Tridacna clams sensitive to stings from other corals or anemones ?  Ore are they immune to these stings ?
<they are tolerant of many but not immune. In time, some cnidarian stings seem to take a toll on the Tridacnid. It is good husbandry to not let any reef invertebrates touch each other and in many cases just being inches away is still a problem with noxious shed chemicals (nettles, nematocysts, etc)>
Best regards - Magnus Petersson / Sweden
<best regards, Anthony>

Clams and snails
Hi Bob,
<on the Calfo train today... Anthony in your service. First stop... Mollusks>
I am setting up a 125 gallon reef tank. I currently have nothing but 180 lbs of live rock. 
<an excellent start... a good skimmer too, right? Very important to get that thing working daily in the early stages.>
it is starting to grow algae and diatoms. I want to get a cleanup crew of snails and crabs, etc. 
<OK... but do rely mostly on daily skimmate production, carbon and water changes to control most nutrients>
however, I eventually want to have giant clams. I've been reading knop's book on them and he recommends against having snails. 
<well... not all snails. He simply refers to the omnivorous or predatory nature of some common species. However, common Astraea Turbo snails are quite fine>
this seems pretty extreme to me. how do you keep up with algae and detritus with no snails. 
<again... I can't emphasize it enough to friends... getting your skimmer to produce a full cup of dark skimmate every day can eradicate most nuisance algae even when severe. Invest in a good skimmer and make it work hard, my friend>
thanks, john Kim
<Best regards, Anthony>

Re: Harlequin Tusk & Bird Wrasse in Reef?
Hi Anthony,
Thank you so much for advising me on those beauties. 
<always welcome, my friend>
Well the HT and BW I saw in the shop is less than 7 inches long. 
<which sounds like "up to seven inches" to me...heehee. They typically come in large (5-6 inches) and sure don't stop growing from there>
Are they OK with the tank? Latest I heard my clams could be in danger with these guys. Is it true? Don't want my expensive clams to die.
<clams are portable and can be smashed against the rocks easily. Although not preferred fare... I cannot convey strongly enough how large wrasse species do not belong in a reef. You need a FOWLR tank for these bulls>
ps. Was wondering how you guys run your service? I mean do you do it on voluntarily basis answering idiot question like mine or is it subsidized by something else. You guys are wonderfully incredible in assisting people out there with marine issues and I think we should do something back.
<thanks kindly... all volunteer work. Bob started this great site out of his kindness and empathy for the industry and aquarists.. as it grows, he enlists the help of friends like us. Best regards to you and all, Anthony Calfo>

Wise with Seahorses, invertebrates, tridacnids
Hey,
<whassuuuup?>
Thank you for the quick response on my questions about my proposed mini-reef setup. 
<quite welcome>
I have decided against getting sea horses after being advised that it would be best for a seahorse to be kept in a tank which is at least 20 inches tall. 
<I am honestly delighted to hear that more seahorses will live longer <smile>>
So I guess I will now be going with a fish or two, some corals and possibly a clam. Could you name some corals which would do well in my 110 watts of PC light (over a 20 gallon) and that could be kept by a beginner to keeping corals? Also, will any of the species of clams be ok or do you have a species that you would recommend?
<with that much good light over a twenty gallon, you can keep more species seen in the trade than not. Stick with mostly soft corals (finger and crown/mushroom leathers) and Zoantharians (button polyps and mushroom anemones)... they're are hardy and colorful. Avoid stony corals as a beginner (LPS and SPS). The hardiest clams are Hippopus species, T. derasa and T. squamosa. Other blue clams will need bright light in shallow water>
Thank You, Jonathan Pac
<very welcome>

Giant T. deresa clam
Hi,
<howdy do?>
I was wondering if it would be safe to put a giant deresa clam in my 240 gallon system, with my show size emperor angel? Or will he start munching on the clam?
< not recommended unless you have immediate recourse for the clam. I would suggest that you do not try it. Anthony Calfo> Linstun

Clams
Hi Bob,
I read the e-mail from the person with the clam-swallowed clownfish with
interest . . . and then it got me thinking. Would you consider your
average giant claim to be a fish predator to worry about? 
<No... close very slowly compared to most livestock... and generally not "all the way">
Or would you
classify this more as a low I.Q. / careless fish story -- the theory of
natural selection at work, if you will.
<Well put. Wish I had written thus. Bob Fenner>
Dale.

Clownfish swallowed by Clam
Alright. I know. I should have gotten an anemone.
<Mmm, really?>
But I was busy setting up
the 75 gal tank and ... Anyway, My Gold stripped Maroon clownfish thought
that the clam was an anemone. I had noticed yesterday that he was really
"chumming" up to the clam (more than normal). I got home last night and the
damsel and all the other fish look disturbed (usual first sign that
something is wrong). I then looked for the clownfish and lined up the usual
suspects and interrogated them (well, really I just checked the crabs and the
green brittle star [he's still smaller them all of the fish- but he is going
in the refugium]). But there is not a body and the skimmer looks about
normal. Ok - check the tank again, check every small hole. check again (and
again). I still could not find Mr.. wiggles (er.. the clownfish). So I think
the only place he could be is in the clam. I debate this for a half an hour
and finally think that it just can't happen.
This morning I wake up and feed the fish, when I see this maroon fin
sticking out of the clam. (Oh yeah, that's what I want to see). Well there it
is. The clam ate my clownfish. But no, wait. The fin is moving. The fin
moved again. So I decided to rescue Mr. wiggles. I pried open the clam (it
didn't take a lot of effort) and out comes Mr. wiggles (who will need at
least ten years of therapy). In the process, I dislodged the clam from its
shell on one side. I probed the clam and there was no reaction from it, so I
found a place that would close the shell without using too much force.
My question is: Is there any hope for the clam?
<What a delightful write-up! Yes to hope, recovery... Bob Fenner>