Goby with clams and corals

[Z06-Hec]

So I got my first real goby. By real I mean he cleans the sand unlike my yellow watchman that I havent seen in weeks. If I do see him its brief. So goby is going to town and covering clams and all with sand. Is that ok?

 

[kireek]

I don't think your clams will appreciate that.Sand can irritate the tissue of some corals,I am not sure if clams fall into this category.

 

[NanaReefer]

As you will soon find out, it is not ok. Especially for the clam! I believe we talked about this before right?
Sand can clog your clams gills. Sand can irritate corals to the point of them closing up, thus starving. Plus who likes a mouth full of sand that they can't expel?
You have a tough choice on your hands. Move all corals/clam off the SB or remove the fish. Sorry

 

[Reeferdude56]

If you have a large enough clam 4+ inches and its mantle is high off of the ground enough the goby probably wont get sand into the mantle because after it puts sand in its mouth it wont get enough off of the ground to drop sand into the clams mantle. Coral wise just keep a close eye on them and flip any back over if the goby flips them. It will only hurt the corals growth but not by much IMO.

 

[Vividgraphx]

Is build a piles of rocks and place the clam above the sand until it gets bigger and the goby calms down.

 

[eatbreakfast]

As long as the clam is not being buried and the mantle is still extending. Clams have effective ways of dealing with sand. In fact scientific studies have shown their gill to be an effective filter for sand.

 

[NanaReefer]

Scientific Studies? Where? I don't think this included a fish dumping sand on them every day

 

[eatbreakfast]

Scientific Studies? Where? I don't think this included a fish dumping sand on them every day

No, but many Tridacnid clams, particularly maricultured ones are in high sand areas, and as tides and flow are around them encounter a large amount of sand being deposited on them, in many cases more than a sifting gobie will deposit upon them. So as long as they are not buried, not tipped over, or the mantle is not closed the clam should be able to handle it.

 

[eatbreakfast]

And actually there are more scientific studies available on Tridacnid clams than many other marine ornamentals because there is more economic influence because they are farmed as a food source rather than solely for the aquarium trade.