butterfly and clam

[obie66]

I recently added a copperband butterfly to my tank to control aiptasia. It is working. And it has left my coral alone. But one day last week, out of nowhere, I woke up and my maxima clam was clean gone. Just shell. I don't know if it died of some unknown cause and my hermits cleaned it out, or what. Would a butterfly go after a large clam?

 

[mojoreef]

It could Obie, I know mine takes a bit now and then. Key is to make sure it is feed well, and tus has no need to look for alturnatives.


Mike

 

[Witfull]

butterlies are clam eaters,,its possible it had been picking on it without notice,,,their skinny mouth can get inside of them. and it started to die and the crabs got it.

 

[kevinpo]

Although Copperband Butterflyfish can nip a clam to death it does not have the power in its mouth to suddenly kill a clam. You would see it picking at it over time and the clam would fail to open as much often remaining closed for long periods. A healthy clam will not let something attack its mantle without reacting by closing.
Often what you have described is caused from long-term lack of nutrition. Tridacna sp. will look perfect until the day they drop dead and suddenly disappear when slowly starved. This process can take 6-8 months. If the clam is 4" or larger it is because of lack of light intensity. Smaller ones must be fed phytoplankton every few days because their mantles do not have enough surface area to absorb enough light energy and host enough Zooxanthellae.
The T. maxima and T. crocea require the most light and do best 12-16" from a 250-400W halide. T. derasa, T. squamosa, T. gigas, and T. hippopus take considerably less light but halides are still recommended although power compacts, HO t-5's, and VHO's will work with proper placement.
Sorry to hear about your loss

Regards,
Kevin

 

[mojoreef]

good post kev



mike