Something ate my New Clam?! [emoji24]

[CookeRS]

I think it was my Nassarius Snails? (I have 2). I've had the clam for only a few days, maybe a week. I have seen the Nassarius Snails nearby the clam but didn't make any correlation that it would be interested in eating him!

Has anyone else experienced this? I kept the clam on the sand as I heard if they fall off rockwork that can kill them... But it would seem something got to him!

Before lights out last night the clam was looking very happy and open, first thing this morning... Gone!

Asking as I may try getting another one if I can isolate and remove/reduce the risk of it happening again.

 

[Elgringodiablo]

Usually nassarius snails won’t eat clams unless they are already dead. Any other inverts present around the shell? As far as I know pyramid snails, whelks and polyclad flatworms are the only pests that actively kill clams.

 

[CookeRS]

I know Pyramids are a potential threat, although tiny, I haven't seen any, and can't see any around the shell. I'm ruling them out I think.

Main reason I'm suspecting the Nassarius was because I have seen one of them push the clam over once. I feel pretty stupid now for not realising that that was probably the snail trying to get underneath him.

Other Potential cuplrits: I have 2 Peppermint Shrimps, a Trochus Snail, 2 Nassarius Snails, and various sizes of Stomatellas.

Fish wise, 2 Firetail Gobys and a Fairy Wrasse.

 

[DSC reef]

I would hold off on getting another clam. That nassarius looks suspect. @KJ

 

[CookeRS]

Yeah....it's my gut feeling DSC, well I'm glad my Nassarius was able to have a nice expensive Saturday night meal! [emoji24]

 

[DSC reef]

Sorry about the loss. That was a beautiful squamosa.

 

[reef lover]

Probably a whelk of some sort...

 

[CookeRS]

Sorry about the loss. That was a beautiful squamosa.

Thank you. I hope at least that this post can help anyone else who's looking at getting clams.

Learning from our Mistakes is a huge part of this hobby. And if you can learn from other people's mistakes, bonus!

From this experience, I'd probably advise against Clams if you have Nassarius Snails. Or at least, keep a close eye on how your Nassarius behave around the clam. If they seem strangely interested or attracted to it. Try to move it out of reach of the snails.

 

[DSC reef]

I'm not sold on that being a nassarius but I'm not a snail expert. I've kept many clams with nassarius and never had a problem. Thanks for sharing.

 

[CookeRS]

A targeted google search has actually somewhat given me an answer that it can be a problem on some occasions.

Perhaps there hasn't been enough in the sandbeds for the Nassarius to feed off and they got hungry?

 

[FunkEngine]

I won't claim to be an expert, but from what I understand Nassarius are a specific type of whelk that are exclusively detritivores. But I also know that other predatory whelks are sometimes sold as Nassarius snails in the hobby and I would hypothesize that is where the confusion with Nassarius snails comes in. To add to the confusion Nassarius would scavenge a dead or dying clam. Clams also seem to have sudden mortality in tanks.

 

[Elgringodiablo]

I won't claim to be an expert, but from what I understand Nassarius are a specific type of whelk that are exclusively detritivores. But I also know that other predatory whelks are sometimes sold as Nassarius snails in the hobby and I would hypothesize that is where the confusion with Nassarius snails comes in. To add to the confusion Nassarius would scavenge a dead or dying clam. Clams also seem to have sudden mortality in tanks.

This... I’ve had clams with nassarius with no problem. However their whelk cousins will eat clams and are occasionally sold accidentally. Also, nassarius WILL eat a dead clam without hesitation.

How fast was it eaten? Supposedly polyclad flatworms will finish one off overnight.

 

[CookeRS]

How fast was it eaten? Supposedly polyclad flatworms will finish one off overnight.

It was overnight. I would be surprised if it had suddenly died, as it was looking fabulous in the evening before the lights went out, and my parameters are pretty much on point.

Those flatworms I've googled, I haven't seen anything even remotely similar in my tank, and I pay very close attention to my tank both in evenings and during the day. I have a high powered precise torch that I sometimes go 'hunting' with in my tank, spotting all sorts of little creatures, unless they are master of disguise/hiding I'm pretty certain I don't have any. I do know that I have some Bristle Worms, but I keep them in check, removing them if I see any big ones, but I've never really found any over an inch or so long.

Attached to perhaps help with the Nassarius ID? From what I've read I'm ALMOST certain they are Nassarius.

The more I think about it the more convinced I am that it's the Nassarius. As ive been finding the clam knocked over on its side with the Nassarius buried nearby a few times.

 

[bigroost]

I thought peppermint shrimp were known to eat clams?

 

[CookeRS]

I thought peppermint shrimp were known to eat clams?

If it was them I should fire them them because they haven't done their job! (the little Aptasia's are still there! [emoji39])

 

[Elgringodiablo]

If it was them I should fire them them because they haven't done their job! (the little Aptasia's are still there! [emoji39])

I’m yet to find a peppermint shrimp that efficiently eats aptasia.

 

[TheSchwenkster]

It was overnight. I would be surprised if it had suddenly died, as it was looking fabulous in the evening before the lights went out, and my parameters are pretty much on point.

Those flatworms I've googled, I haven't seen anything even remotely similar in my tank, and I pay very close attention to my tank both in evenings and during the day. I have a high powered precise torch that I sometimes go 'hunting' with in my tank, spotting all sorts of little creatures, unless they are master of disguise/hiding I'm pretty certain I don't have any. I do know that I have some Bristle Worms, but I keep them in check, removing them if I see any big ones, but I've never really found any over an inch or so long.

Attached to perhaps help with the Nassarius ID? From what I've read I'm ALMOST certain they are Nassarius.

The more I think about it the more convinced I am that it's the Nassarius. As ive been finding the clam knocked over on its side with the Nassarius buried nearby a few times.

Not an expert but the shell looks absolutely smooth and not like most of the pictures or live nassarius if witnessed.

 

[CarolinaShoreReef]

I’m yet to find a peppermint shrimp that efficiently eats aptasia.

I had one that would eat anything..;Shifty

 

[CookeRS]

I think hold off on clams for a while then...

From the recent posts sounds like I've got two 'potential' clam killers, even if I didn't know it! Between the peppermints and what I think are 'Nassarius Snails'..

I'll keep an eye on them, see if they cause any other nuisance.

 

[Gerald Garcia]

I thought peppermint shrimp were known to eat clams?

Those are opportunist eaters. Mine took out my yellow watchman goby and caught jim nipping at my mushroom.