2nd clam lost in a month

[CaptDan]

so I lost a second clam today , last one was exactly a month ago. Last month was a nice maxima and today was a crocea. I have had both for over 9 months and they had been growing with good mantle extention. At first I thought something was off with my parameters but after today I have recently had an icp test and everything was fine. I am pretty sure but not positive that it was a fairly large emerald crab that is the culprit. I had looked at the tank last night at 9, lights off at 9:30 and the crocea looked great. Today at 11 my wife texted me a pic and only the shell remained. The clam had been residing on a rock 6" off the sand. What are your thoughts?

 

[Gumbies R Us]

@OrionN

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Mantle expansion is not the way to tell if the clam is growing, the clam should always have a nice bone white layer of new shell growth at the top of the shell, that is the only way to know if the clam is healthy or not.

Maxima and crocea are the highest light requiring clams, can you tell us what kind of light you have and what intensity it is at?

 

[DSC reef]

Like said above, new shell growth under the mantle is the only way to tell if your clam is growing and healthy. So many variables with losing clams. Too clean of a tank, not enough light, sickness, etc. I suspect the emerald crab took advantage of a dying clam and not the culprit. They're opportunist feeders, especially on dying animals. Check the under side of the shell for pyramid snails too.

 

[CaptDan]

It’s a IM 60 SR with 2 nicrew 65 and a apx9 kessil. The clams were sitting at around 300 par. Both had white scutes insinuating growth. After they were killed. I remover the shell the same day and inspected. Did not see any pyramid snails

 

[slingfox]

If you believe a predator ate the clam, one way to confirm is to get a camera which records what is going on. Aquarium cameras are also useful to keep an eye on the tank when traveling.

 

[BoomCorals]

sounds like a possible polyclad to me. How's your snail population doing? Could set a trap and see if you catching anything.