Conch ate derassa clam

[TheShepherdTrio]

Has anybody heard of this before or had it happen to them? Woke up this morning to the clam having been totally consumed by the conch. The conch was still attached to the clam this morning. We had thought the conch died because we haven’t seen it appear in over a month, well low and behold it woke up from its massive nap last night. It totally shocked us when we saw him up and moving around. We’ve had the conch about 5ish months and the clam about 2. No issues other than the clam becoming an expensive snack unfortunately. The conch has since been evicted so it doesn’t happen again. Just curious if anybody has had this happen before.

 

[ColoredRock]

I have read that Conch's have a bad name... I lost a clam last week to my stupidity... not saying that is the issue you might be having...

Conch's are a cleanup crew... and mine (conch) will not show it self for weeks on end.

Its a dog eat dog world.. just Imagine what goes on in that glass box

 

[G Santana]

I wouldn't be quick to blame the conch, your clam might have died and the conch did what it does naturally.

I have never heard of a conch eating a clam.

 

[cocoReefer]

Conch was caught scavenging, hard to say if it was a predator, and actually did the killing.

 

[TheShepherdTrio]

I wouldn't be quick to blame the conch, your clam might have died and the conch did what it does naturally.

I have never heard of a conch eating a clam.

It was healthy last night before going to bed. Then woke up and it was totally consumed this morning. Absolutely no sign of it being sick so I’m not sure it just happened to die right after the lights turned out. But I guess it could’ve. Either way it was an unfortunate happening lol

 

[Reefbuds]

Dang duuudddeeee

 

[DeniseAndy]

Unfortunately clams can die that fast. Literally in hours. However, I have had a conch eat two clams. This was a very large red footed conch that was found to be a predator, not a scavenger. Not sure of the type you have there. It is not a fighting that are very safe.

 

[G Santana]

It was healthy last night before going to bed. Then woke up and it was totally consumed this morning. Absolutely no sign of it being sick so I’m not sure it just happened to die right after the lights turned out. But I guess it could’ve. Either way it was an unfortunate happening lol

I have lost several clams over 32 years, some were healthy then dead and a couple slowly gapped until they died. It is really hard to tell why clams died.
I love clams but won't get another until my tank is 100 stable, I'm 14 months in and I don't feel I am Clam ready.

 

[Jdadams]

There is a really long clam pic thread on here where another guy mentions a conch eating one of his big ones he posted a pic of.

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

Depending on what type of conch, I would vote Against it being the killer. Clams can and do often look great and then dead within hours.
Conches are (mostly) scavengers.

If you have bristle worms in the tank, they likely got to it first.

 

[Kerbash]

omg i actually once had a really small clam that was completely gone in a span of like 3 hours (when i went grocery shopping), and I had a conch in the tank during the time too. Couldnt never really figured out why, maybe the conch was the murderer...

 

[Shon]

Any idea on what conch you have?

The Florida Crown Conch is a predator..

 

[PokeFish]

dang what kind of conch?? arent the common ones herbivores

 

[Jdadams]

Red foot conch is a predator and known clam eater.

 

[DaJMasta]

As said, there are predatory types, but they're generally not sold for reef tanks. I accused my Tongan nassarius snails of the same misdeed months ago and the reality of the situation was that the clam started to die and they were just the first ones on the scene, though it took some experience with a second clam (and then months of time with them living together) to show that.

 

[Steve and his Animals]

For everyone wondering what kind of conch that is, it's a queen, which are generally considered giant versions of the herbivorous tigers and fightings. My vote is on the conch eating the clam after it died. I've had clams look "good" for a few days after they die; their mantle can stay open and showing but they're already dead, like a person dying with their eyes open. Last one I had do that was a small squamosa; saw some odd holes in the mantle (besides the siphon and gill opening), but thought nothing of it as it still had its mantle extended. Was dead a few days after I noticed.

 

[DeniseAndy]

I was not sure if it was a queen cuz of the crazy points on the front of the shell. I have had queens and clams with no issues. I have milk, fighting and tiger and clams with no issues. The red foot however was a huge mistake.

 

[Mark Novack]

A clam can go from beautiful to polished clean in just an hour or two. The cleanup will start moments after death as the muscles relax. Critters from bacterial size on up start lining up like the family of a dying rich person.

 

[LeftyReefer]

My tank is 2+ years old, has successfully kept SPS for the last 18 months and yet i'm 0 for 3 when it comes to clams.

I drip acclimate them, place them in the tank and they appear happy. Lights go off for the night, lights come back on and clam shell is completely empty.

I have multiple conchs, but I don't believe they are to blame. I'm 99% sure it's my peppermint shrimp doing the clams in.

 

[DeniseAndy]

Peppermint will bother clams. Seen it a lot. Clams are tricky creatures and not much can be done when they go off or begin to die. It happens so fast.