blue tang swims in clam

b_newman · 12/15/2012, 04:39 PM

This blurry picture shows a 2" tang treating a squamosa clam like a clownfish does an anemone. This has happened numerous times per day for about a week now. The fish only stays in the clam mantle for 5-10 seconds at a time, but long enough to poo.
Other clams exist in the peaceful tank but only one is disturbed, yet seems healthy.

sponger0 · 12/15/2012, 04:44 PM

Dont see any pics. Use photobucket. But if the clam seems unaffected I think its fine. ive seen clowns do this also.

sirreal63 · 12/15/2012, 05:51 PM

Cute pic. How about a clown clamming around? or something like that. This one was in his clam every night and the clam did not seem to mind.

Anthony Reefer · 12/15/2012, 05:57 PM

Strange Fish

Flame_Angel · 12/15/2012, 06:44 PM

I had a 12" Squamosa in my 400 reef, and I happened to look up one day and saw this:

Not sure why he was poking his face into the clam, but it took down a 4" Hippo; by the time I was able to open the clam enough to pull the fish out (without hurting the clam), its head was all dented up and it was doing loopty-loops in the tank. Obviously your clam isn't quite this big, but it was pretty disheartening.

Breadman03 · 12/15/2012, 07:28 PM

^^^
A hippo must've been nipping it's mantle when it was just a little squammie.

zachfishman · 12/15/2012, 08:03 PM

Our little (2") hippos swim in our T. gigas all the time. Although I suspect they'd be cushioned by the huge mantle should it close on them, rather than what happened in Flame_Angel's tank.

b_newman · 12/16/2012, 12:26 AM

So it's not just my naive fish that does this. I should show Flame Angels pic to my mine; that's appalling. Did both animals live?

Buzz1329 · 12/16/2012, 05:22 PM

I've got a tiny Yellow Coral Goby (Gobiodon okinawae) that has occupied a small gold tridacna. So far, so good.

Flame_Angel · 12/16/2012, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b_newman

Did both animals live?

The tang died shortly after being extricated from the clam.

Curious George · 12/16/2012, 07:31 PM

I just read a thread last week where someone lost a small hippo to a clam slamming shut on it. Strange behavior and there seems to be a pattern forming.

saf1 · 12/16/2012, 08:54 PM

Thin the herd...

accordsirh22 · 12/16/2012, 08:58 PM

some clams reproduce by luring/catching fish and injecting the larva into them, not sure if this could be the case, as i have never looked into these clams at all?

12/15/2012, 04:44 PM	#2
sponger0 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 6,659	Dont see any pics. Use photobucket. But if the clam seems unaffected I think its fine. ive seen clowns do this also. Last edited by sponger0; 12/15/2012 at 04:53 PM.

12/15/2012, 05:51 PM	#3
sirreal63 Go Spurs Go!!! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Meadowlakes Texas Posts: 13,357	Cute pic. How about a clown clamming around? or something like that. This one was in his clam every night and the clam did not seem to mind. __________________ Jack No One has ever been seriously injured by using the search function. Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be a convenience store, not a government agency. Current Tank Info: Reefing the Pentagon.

12/15/2012, 05:57 PM	#4
Anthony Reefer Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Roseburg, Oregon Posts: 120	Strange Fish __________________ Keep on Reef'in Current Tank Info: I do not have a tank yet as they are very $$$ and I am only 16, But I have been able to afford a lot of information on them.

12/15/2012, 06:44 PM	#5
Flame_Angel Ready For Business Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sutton, NH Posts: 596	I had a 12" Squamosa in my 400 reef, and I happened to look up one day and saw this: Not sure why he was poking his face into the clam, but it took down a 4" Hippo; by the time I was able to open the clam enough to pull the fish out (without hurting the clam), its head was all dented up and it was doing loopty-loops in the tank. Obviously your clam isn't quite this big, but it was pretty disheartening. __________________ Operation: Rebuild:

12/15/2012, 08:03 PM	#7
zachfishman Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: St Petersburg, FL Posts: 3,577	Our little (2") hippos swim in our T. gigas all the time. Although I suspect they'd be cushioned by the huge mantle should it close on them, rather than what happened in Flame_Angel's tank. __________________ Patience is a reefer's best tool. Secret Xenia lover. M.S. Marine Biology Staff - Marine Discovery Center, St. Petersburg FL Tampa Bay Reef Club BOD 2018 Current Tank Info: 34g modded Solana

12/15/2012, 07:28 PM	#6
Breadman03 New Old School Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Luzerne County, PA Posts: 3,293	^^^ A hippo must've been nipping it's mantle when it was just a little squammie.

12/16/2012, 12:26 AM	#8
b_newman Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sacramento Posts: 174	So it's not just my naive fish that does this. I should show Flame Angels pic to my mine; that's appalling. Did both animals live? __________________ 120g mixed reef 56g FOWLR

12/16/2012, 05:22 PM	#9
Buzz1329 Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Staten Island Posts: 2,414	I've got a tiny Yellow Coral Goby (Gobiodon okinawae) that has occupied a small gold tridacna. So far, so good. __________________ Current tank info: 180 mixed reef

12/16/2012, 07:31 PM	#11
Curious George Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 748	I just read a thread last week where someone lost a small hippo to a clam slamming shut on it. Strange behavior and there seems to be a pattern forming.

12/16/2012, 08:54 PM	#12
saf1 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: California Posts: 2,259	Thin the herd... __________________ -saf1 Current Tank Info: 210 gallon mixed reef

12/16/2012, 08:58 PM	#13
accordsirh22 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Clarksville, TN Posts: 817	some clams reproduce by luring/catching fish and injecting the larva into them, not sure if this could be the case, as i have never looked into these clams at all?