Protecting a clam from nipping fish

[vlangel]

Has anyone tried using the netting from potatoes to put around a clam and its rock to keep nosey or nipping fish away? The netting has large enough holes that it should not impede light and if it allows enough room, no fish should be able to get its nose even close to the mantle. Please share your experiences.

 

[mtnrunner]

What is the netting made from? Risk of leaching something toxic would be my only concern.

My pair of clowns decided to take up home with my clam so I 3D printed a rectangle box with legs to put down over the clam. It just has horizontal bars which are very thin and wide enough apart so that the fish can’t barely get through. The clam is happy and opens fully and the fish just stare in disbelief LOL.

 

[vlangel]

What is the netting made from? Risk of leaching something toxic would be my only concern.

My pair of clowns decided to take up home with my clam so I 3D printed a rectangle box with legs to put down over the clam. It just has horizontal bars which are very thin and wide enough apart so that the fish can’t barely get through. The clam is happy and opens fully and the fish just stare in disbelief LOL.

It's thin plastic netting that I have used prior to cover my powerheads so my cucumber doesn't get sucked into them. I doubt that they would put potatoes in a net bag that could leach toxins. I have white ones where the netting is a little bigger than this red one pictured.

 

[minus9]

I would choose either the clam or the fish, trying to keep netting over the clam may do damage to a fish (gills, spikes can get caught) in the future. Plus, do you really want to look at the clam with a net or a box over it? It kinda defeats the purpose of keeping a clam, but that's just me. I had a yellow tang take out two maximas before, so the fish had to go.

 

[vlangel]

I would choose either the clam or the fish, trying to keep netting over the clam may do damage to a fish (gills, spikes can get caught) in the future. Plus, do you really want to look at the clam with a net or a box over it? It kinda defeats the purpose of keeping a clam, but that's just me. I had a yellow tang take out two maximas before, so the fish had to go.

I think you are right. I really wanted to try a butterfly fish since I've never had one but its probably not worth the risk and anxiety if the new butterfly starts in on the clam. Right now the 11 fish that I have are good with the clam and I can surely find other fish that I like that do not have a reputation for being nippers.

 

[minus9]

Plus, having a box or net in the tank takes away the “natural” beauty that we’re trying to replicate. The hard truth with keeping clams is, what fish you keep matters and there are some that definitely do get along with clams. I love butterflies, but I love clams more.

 

[mtnrunner]

I understand how it distracts from the looks, but if one wants both it is an option. With you style of netting, you would need something to hold it away from actually touching the clam. The netting that comes from a bag of onions isn’t as ‘spongy’ and might be able to position it so that it doesn’t touch the clam. Who knows, if you haven’t actually purchased the butterfly, it may not bother the clam. Another trick I tried when my clowns started acclimating with the clam was to move the clam to another area of the tank, but they eventually found it and started acclimating with it again. Yes, I have a thin structure over my clam, but it is still very visible and keeps the clowns out. I printed it in black so it doesn’t stand out as much, with a white top to reflect and allow more light to pass. Very thin slats.

 

[areefer01]

Short answer already given is to choose one or the other.

Risky answer if you have both and can't move one or the other is to let Mother Nature run its course. It may work out, it may not. You can also try to feed more frequently to see if that lowers the nips and tucks.

Alternative is to try/use egg crate. I saw this done in a large tank over 800 gallons and looking for the video now in case you want to see how they did it. It will hold up better and won't break down. Also open to more light. I just can't find it :( I'll look some more and circle back. But that may be an option.

 

[code4]

Here is what I did to keep a clam safe. In this photo it is protecting my trachy. Other times it was my crocea. My copperband ignored the clam the first 2 years. So he was evicted to my larger tank. The cover is plexiglass. With lots of holes drilled in it. Not pretty but functional.

What fish do you have with your clam currently?

 

[code4]

Better photo. I made 2 of different sizes.

 

[Viking_Reefing]

If you can I would try and move the clam. I find that it sometimes helps to get it out of the normal “path” of a fish.
Also, feed more and up the frequency. A satiated fish is less likely to go rogue.