ODD clam and fish behavior

[DonW]

Maybe one of the more experienced clam keepers can chime in on this one.
Over the past week or so by 3" purple tang has started using my gigas as a shelter. He will swim into, yes I mean INTO inside the gigas and hang out. The gigas seems to really care less.

Don

 

[chris&barb]

its not unheard of for fish to swim inside large clams. ive never heard of a tang doing it but have seen may clownfish host inside a clam.

 

[DonW]

its not unheard of for fish to swim inside large clams. ive never heard of a tang doing it but have seen may clownfish host inside a clam.

I guess my concern is the tang irritating or damaging his gill or other organs. The tang has alway sat on the mantle and even doesnt mind getting closed up on. The mantle is pretty tough but I dont know if the inards are fragile or not. The tang seems to be rubbing himself on the clams gill for some strange reason.

Don

 

[coil1002]

Wow don try to get a picture of that

 

[DonW]

Wow don try to get a picture of that

I tried last night but the batteries were of course dead. I'll catch him eventually.

Don

 

[chris&barb]

if the clam dosent seem to mind then it must not be getting hurt. i wouldnt do anything unless the clam starts to act like its being annoyed

 

[matts125]

Thats crazy! I would be worried myself, but maybe the clam doesnt mind.....

Matt

 

[jetaero]

My Pseudochromis do the same with my gigas.

-Josh

 

[DonW]

Thanks folks this was a first for me. My chromis did run into the dursa but shot right back out I think he was as shocked as I was. The concencus is that this is normal so I wont worry about it. I guess theres plenty of room in there for a tang or two.

Don

 

[JRBear5658]

My Helfrichi used to hide in clam when scared

 

[DonW]

My Helfrichi used to hide in clam when scared

I guess if my sailfin goes in there I'll worry.

Don

 

[spongebob lover]

well at least your tang didn't get stock in the clam like John's (dory half way stock )

think of it as a clown hosting an anemone but in a larger dimension dood .

 

[DonW]

well at least your tang didn't get stock in the clam like John's (dory half way stock )

think of it as a clown hosting an anemone but in a larger dimension dood .

Not hosting gabby like sitting on the mantle, he gets inside the clam with the organs.

Don

 

[goby2004]

haha he never did seem bothered by anything!!! our naso would rub up against the inside part of the mantle. maybe the tang likes the squishiness and it is like a massage for the tang???? hopefully he wont get closed in or smashed... that is all i would worry about. that is sooo wierd!! how is the beast anyway? we miss him... tank is still so EMPTY w/o it in there

 

[DonW]

haha he never did seem bothered by anything!!! our naso would rub up against the inside part of the mantle. maybe the tang likes the squishiness and it is like a massage for the tang???? hopefully he wont get closed in or smashed... that is all i would worry about. that is sooo wierd!! how is the beast anyway? we miss him... tank is still so EMPTY w/o it in there

Well, it grows like a weed. He is awsome.

Don

 

[goby2004]

haha yes

has he grown his 1+in per two months yet??

 

[DonW]

haha yes

has he grown his 1+in per two months yet??

Ya closer to 1" a month.


Don

 

[goby2004]

good to hear he is growing like a weed! lol how big is he now?

 

[DonW]

good to hear he is growing like a weed! lol how big is he now?

I'd guess 17" now.

Don

 

[WA coral]

clam hosting

Here are some pics of my maroon or moron hosting in the clam, the clam dosent seem to mind but I have seen a couple of close calls when the clam decides to close. I did noticed a prior hippo tang I used to have (wonder why that is) swimming in to the clams and I thought nothing of it untill I saw him take a nip here and a bite there he was real sneaky about it and it was very hard to catch him in the act but as time passed he got worse and started to noticeably damage them , I guess just keep an eye on him so hes not getting a free meal.