Will this shrimp kill my clam?

Fisherman Joe · Jun 19, 2015

Hi all.

Had ongoing problems with my new Maxima clam the last few weeks. Looks like its suffering a little with Pinched Mantle, i think it may be down to the blood red shrimp. See below.

It did open up to feed today, its inlet seemed a little wide to me and i was worried it was starting to gape, but its still it seems like its muscles are still strong and its contracting well.

I am running lots of carbon and changing water weekly to help, any advice?

Shrimp is stalking the clam:

Mantle looks pinched:

Here he comes:

Anyone for BBQ shrimp?

Damage after:

Moved the clam's milliput base forward in the sand, not moved the clam directly:

Now that the clam is away from the overhang i think the shrimp may be scared to venture out in the open and they may leave the clam alone a little more. the Tang and the Banana wrasse are still patrolling it but they wont hurt i presume:

SantaMonicaHelp · Jun 19, 2015

Both the clam and the little red guy are stunning! I hope he leaves the clam alone :mad:
Thanks for sharing

~CI

Fisherman Joe · Jun 20, 2015

Day 2, shrimp arent bothering it but the mantle looks like it has an infection

Pics in this thread: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/p...-id-and-treatment-options.98140/#post-2337821

Downbeach · Jun 20, 2015

I used to keep four different species of shrimp, one of which was a pair of red Blood Shrimp, along with two Maxima clams. The shrimp never bothered the clams, which is more than I can say for a Flame Angel I had. They shouldn't bother a healthy clam. Here is an article I just posted in the thread you referred to.

Fisherman Joe · Jun 20, 2015

Thanks.

I agree, a healthy clam will be fine, but interestingly, i moved the clam out in to the open more and its fine now, the shrimp seem a little more reluctant to come out in to the open during the day.

Reef2zach · Jun 22, 2015

I have a maxima and a fire shrimp. I've never had any problems.

Akida17th · Jun 22, 2015

The clam may be sick or have a bacterial infection as you stated which the fire shrimp probably smells in the water column. I've never issues with fires and have kept a few however I have found that all shrimp aren't bound to any one thing and will do butt they please. I just removed a peppermint shrimp for attacking my new colorado sunburt nem so they do what they want when they want. All you can do is keep an eye on them. I hope everything works out for ya.

Fisherman Joe · Jun 23, 2015

The clam is being really odd, 80% of the mantle is out and feeding fine, some other parts are withdrawn, bleached, patchy and covered in mucus.

Cant make my mind up but as someone famous once said "when no obvious course of actions presents itself, the best thing is to do nothing"...

Downbeach · Jun 23, 2015

Did you read the hyperlink in post #4...check for pyramid snails.

hart24601 · Jun 24, 2015

Have you really watched the tank for a long period of time to make sure something else like a fish isn't bothering it? I have had my share of tangs that would pick at a clam... not a lot, but enough to kill it and I had to watch for hours to find out.