Tangs with clams

[Boycethefirst]

I just found my yellow tang clamped down on my newly addition purple maxima which is only 1.5 inches long. It’s been 30 minutes since it’s been stuck. I was told to not pry the clam open just wait it out. If it keeps going on, the clam and yellow tang will die. I think the foot broke off. My yellow tang has always been a curious type but I never woulda thought he woulda been that stupid to put his mouth in the clam...

 

[PTXReef]

Have mandarin gobies, clowns, royal gramma, yellow tang, hippo tang, so far no issues with my 1.5'' maxima clam. My cleaner shrimp does like to hang around the clam tho, which I do not like.

 

[jeffrey750750]

I have a 2” squamosa, 7” derasa, 12” Squamosa, 14” derasa and 15” squamosa with a bunch of Tangs: yellow, scopas, Black, purple, desjardini sailfin, sailfin, unicorn, 2 x vlamingii, orange shoulder, sohal and Blochii Tangs. The fish range from 3”-15”, and have never gone after my clams. However, my cleaner wrasse nipped at them like crazy, but my cleaner body has never done anything toward them. I have all of the fish (and a few more) in a 600 gallon system and nitrates are actually zero as the clams act as natural filters. So... I think you are good to go if you add clams to a tank with tangs

That is a great piece of the ocean you have there, nice selection of wild life

 

[HB AL]

I would try gently to pry the clan open just enough to allow the tang to escape. Short of ripping the clam completely open is not gonna cause any harm. Hopefully the tang is still breathing. Good luck.