Believe it or not I have seen this but with a Copperband Butterfly and some form of unknown biovalve in my tank. Woke up one morning and as I passed the tank to get a cup of coffee the Copperband swam up and stared at me with great big eyes. If you are saying no, tell me there wasn't a clam or other form of biovalve closed on its mouth it would be a lie. Sure enough as night turns to day I lost the Copperband because the little thing never once let go...
Interesting enough this was back in 2000. I still have some of that rock from Fiji today and there are a lot of those little things around the tank. Also interesting is that I had two Maximus that recently died for some unknown reason. Tank is fine, clams looked great. One 4" the other new arrival from same source/vendor around 2" or so. One day the new one over night gone and 2 days later the larger blue. Never could figure it out.
Only thing that is new....is a matted file fish (to control my outbreak of aptasia). I also see it eating small stalks of Xenia (which I don't really care about) but this thread may caution me from replacing my Maxima's.
Glad your story had a happier ending. The suggestion of lights out while letting it run its course was the right action to take. Maybe not for your nerves but for the two parties in the tank - it really was the best move. Have a grand day!
