Clam clamped my Tang

[codybug]

I posted this in the general reef section - but I wanted to know what you guys think?

I looked over at my tank and saw the craziest thing! My four inch Derasa clam had my three inch Yellow Tang by the nose - He was clamped onto the snout of my Yellow Tang really hard. I could not pull the Tang loose. My poor Tang was looking at me like "help me - he's got me by the nose". Finally I took a flat letter opener (only thing I could find really fast) and pryed open the clam shell and the Tang was free. Only minimal damage to the clam (a small chip on the edge of his shell) and a small wound on the Tangs mouth. I think they will both be OK.
That really freaked me out. Has anyone ever heard of something like this happening before?

[dragon_slayer]

any time something disturbs a clam they naturally close in self defense. your tang was just to slow (or stupid) to get out of the way. must of been something really worth while he was going after

kc

[29GallonReefer]

that just happend at my shop but not with a clam. THe tang gots its nose stuck in a hermits shell. He had it clamped tight enough so that the tang couldn't get away. I let him learn his lesson for a little while then pulled him out. It was very funny.

[codybug]

Everyone seems to be doing fine now (Tang is eating and clam is fully opened again) - so I can look back and laugh about it now. I wish I could have taken a picture of it. The look on the Tangs face was totally funny looking. The wierd thing is - is the Tang is really healthy and quick moving. He is not sick and slow.
That darn Tang better watch out where he sticks that big nose of his!
By the way - the new nickname for the clam is "Clamper".
LOL
Nature is funny!

[The Punisher]

These are from another thread from someone else who had the same problem and was able to snap a few pics, the results weren't the same though, I believe he lost the fish.

[HOZERTHEBONEFISH]

Amazing pix... clam wins for a change!!

[SaltwaterSensei]

that second pic is a pwn3d picture waiting to happen.....

[chadfarmer]

were can i get a clam like that


that pic rules

[SaltwaterSensei]

SO fellas,


If your fish looks at your clams, show them this....

[masson]

1337

[SaltwaterSensei]

Originally posted by masson
1337

you know it

[npirate]

I just got a Derasa Clam about 6 inches end to end. If this happens I'll cry. Poor fish!!!



I think I'll start keeping an eye out when I feed each night to make sure no food stay in the clam.

Nick

[RedSonja]

Originally posted by SaltwaterSensei
SO fellas,


If your fish looks at your clams, show them this....

(image snippage)

I need to show that to our cleaner shrimp. He's on his way outta the tank today for nibbling our gold teardrop maxima, I caught him in the act this morning before the tank lights came on.

-Sonja

[SR HELLBOY]

That my friends, is an amazing pic!!!

[codybug]

You should have seen my Yellow Tang being held tightly by the tip of his nose.

The funny thing is my Neon Goby sits on my open Derasa with no problem.

[RedSonja]

Originally posted by codybug
You should have seen my Yellow Tang being held tightly by the tip of his nose.

The funny thing is my Neon Goby sits on my open Derasa with no problem.

Our blue neon goby used to do that, on our blue maxima. It was cute at first then the clam started looking stressed out. So goby got moved to the 'fuge where's he became the happiest fatest goby ever since he had no competition for all the 'pods down there.

-Sonja

[npirate]

Maybe the Tang nipped at it? Or maybe there were food pellets in the clam? My tangs like to pick pellets off the ground so I've been keeping an eye out making sure there are no pellets in the clam after feeding so there is no reason for them to poke around in there.

Nick

[RedSonja]

Originally posted by npirate
Maybe the Tang nipped at it? Or maybe there were food pellets in the clam? My tangs like to pick pellets off the ground so I've been keeping an eye out making sure there are no pellets in the clam after feeding so there is no reason for them to poke around in there.

I dunno, we watched and at that time we didn't have a tang in the tank. Didn't see any nipping going on or evidence of nips in the clam, it just started bleaching out where the goby sat on it. When I say sat, I mean hung out for hours on the same spot. The goby and the clam were almost the exact color of blue so maybe the goby thought it made good camouflage. Of the two, there was no contest on who stayed in the main tank, clam stayed, goby left.

[RedSonja]

Originally posted by RedSonja
I dunno, we watched and at that time we didn't have a tang in the tank. Didn't see any nipping going on or evidence of nips in the clam, it just started bleaching out where the goby sat on it. When I say sat, I mean hung out for hours on the same spot. The goby and the clam were almost the exact color of blue so maybe the goby thought it made good camouflage. Of the two, there was no contest on who stayed in the main tank, clam stayed, goby left.

Or duh, I think you replied to the original post instead of me and I misunderstood. Sorry!

-Sonja

[npirate]

No it's just wishful thinking on my part. I'm trying to convince myself that my clam isn't going to get one of my three tangs. Hoping . . . ."maybe her/his tang was more aggressive then mine" or "under feed" or something. Now I walk in the door when i get home from work and think "please.... don't let me find one of my tangs clamped in my clam"

[vitaldefect001]

those are some sad pics, makes me miss my emperor angel...

my clam closes up when a pelet drops on it, to get the pelet off it...

[Chaotic Reefer4u]

wow, very whack if you ask me.....

[TeeLapia]

Make that your avatar.

[Freed]

The bigger the clam the slower they are to close and therefore not many fish will get caught by the larger ones.

[elegance coral]

That pic looks soooooo painful! I'll never be able to look at my clam the same again.