Clam predator?

Kyle Rinker · Jun 3, 2018

I had a gorgeous 6" blue maxima that was unfortunately picked on to death by a stary blennie. The Blennie is now in a different tank. I will be ordering another maxima very soon, but will be moving my tank to another room in the office. In the tank, I have a very bossy 6 line wrasse. I understand that 6 lines can be very beneficial to clams, but I am afraid he will pick at the mantle. When I move the tank, I have the ideal opportunity to move the 6 line to my other tank. I have never seen him pick on other corals, but I have witnessed him chase a royal gramma to death. I also have an electric flame scallop in the tank that the wrasse has open access to but has never bothered. I understand that scallop isn't the same as the maxima, but do you feel it would be safe to keep the 6 line in the tank?

jda · Jun 3, 2018

I have never had a wrasse pick at clam. Not a single kind, ever.

Only clam pickers that I have had are Angelfish, tangs, blennies and the non-reef safe butterflies. All of these can be known coral eaters, so this should surprise nobody.

reef lover · Jun 4, 2018

The clam will be fine....now the other fish are a different story....lol they mean!

Shigshwa · Jun 4, 2018

I've seen my Wrasses hover near a clam as if they wanted to take a bite, but those clams were usually sick. Now that my clams are healthy, the Wrasses don't bug them. It's a different story for a clam that is nearly dead though, the Wrasses will chow down once they realize that it doesn't close to defend itself.

Kyle Rinker · Jun 4, 2018

Thanks all, I appreciate the feedback. This was what I was thinking but wanted more input. I found a beautiful blue/purple maxima I couldn't pass up and was afraid it would sell quickly so I wanted to grab it. I will plan to keep the 6 line in the tank. Not sure I can add another fish through without him bullying the heck out of it!

Kyle Rinker · Jun 5, 2018

I got the clam in today and acclimated it over the period of about 2 hours. It is sitting at the bottom of my tank now. It is not opening up as fully as I would have expected it to by now, but it does briskly react to my hand passing over the top of it. I could not identify any pests. I can see the middle of the mantle and both siphons look intact. It's foot looks good and it's tethers are still attached to the rubble it came with.

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