Clams vs copperband

iamurri33 · Mar 17, 2016

I was thinking about getting a small to medium clan to see if I can keep one with my copperband, has anyone had luck? Also a newbe question, has anyone heard of clams smashing on a fish and killing it if then went inside them?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 17, 2016

My copperband was a Chelmon marginalis, but it paid no attention to a T. crocea clam.

Salt Creep · Mar 17, 2016

I could see it happening as a fluke. AFAIK clams don't have any kind of taste for fish and if it happened before it was probably because the fish swam right over the clam close enough to get caught in the mantle. Clams will close up quickly from the slightest change in light. Happens to mine all the time if I even wave my hand next to the light where I don't really see an noticeable change in the light intensity, but the clam picks it up and realizes there is a change and possible threat above. Fish got too close swimming over it, clam shuts, oops. I think if this ever happened it is not because the clam wanted to eat or even kill the fish. They are filter feeders.

maroun.c · Mar 18, 2016

It's hit or miss if your copper and will nip at clams or not, I have gotten lucky with a copper and that ate aptasia, frozen and didn't touch any of my 5 clams.
As to clams closing on fish it has happened but very rarely nothing I'd worry about. I've seen clams nipped on to death which couldn't arm the fish so believe it's more luck than the clam trying to prey on fish or defend itself, not that it can eat fish as well.
Problem is that if it manages to close on the fish it won't open for some time with the fish in it which is a clear death sentence to the fish.