coral banded shrimp and a clam

**bobboman** · 03-20-2010, 11:07 PM

i have a coral banded shrimp that has been in my tank for about a 15 months. my question is, is this shrimp likely to eat a clam if i were to buy one?? also, the LFS told me that once a coral banded shrimp becomes an adult he will become aggressive towards my fish. is this true?

**rayme07** · 03-21-2010, 03:37 AM

No, the coral banded shrimp shouldn't mess with your clam. The only time I have seen a coral banded shrimp or any shrimp that is reef safe attack a clam is if it is already dieing. Yes, coral banded shrimps can get agressive when they get older or even when they are small, when I had one it would perch on a rock and if any fish get in near his perch he would push them out of the way with his claws but nothing too serious. But he will fight with any other shrimp you have in the tank and will probably kill them so if you have other shrimp in the tank I would not get him. I hope this helps.

**bobboman** · 03-21-2010, 03:42 AM

yes, this helps a lot!!
thanks.

i have been doing a lot of research on clams, and i think im ready to buy one.

water parameters are
ph 8.2
nitrate 0
phosphate 0
temp 78
calcium 450ppm

my lights are a 150W MH 10000k. the tank has been up and running for about 15 months.

do you guys think im ready??

**rayme07** · 03-21-2010, 03:49 AM

No problem I am happy to help. But I have no experience with clams still doing research but I am sure the others with more experience will help out.

**Pat** · 03-21-2010, 12:38 PM

from what iv researched about clams so far sounds like your ready
i believe ones that are about 3 inches big are easier to introduce and have success with in you aquarium might wanna consider that,
what size tank do you have?

**bobboman** · 03-21-2010, 11:33 PM

I have a 24g aquapod.. i was planning getting a smaller clam to start with.

**Pat** · 03-22-2010, 12:32 AM

iv been told that the smaller clams (less then 2.5 inches) are much harder to keep healthy

**saxman** · 03-22-2010, 12:18 PM

IME, baby clams are indeed more touchy than "established" specimens. babies (<2.5") typically lack sufficient mantle mass to thrive without supplementary feedings of live phytoplankton. also, if you're looking at T. crocea or T. maxima, they should be kept in the upper half of the rockwork, not only because they're rock-dwelling clams, but because they need all the light they can get. make sure the clam isn't in a high flow area...if the mantle does more than an occasional "gentle lift" every so often, the flow is too great (the clam will either bail from the rock or refuse to extend its mantle).

HTH

**Coreyz** · 03-23-2010, 07:07 PM

Larger clams are easier to keep because they can grow there own food inside from photosynthesis. Like saxman said the smaller ones will require supplemental feedings from products like DT's phytoplankton. I have quite a few shrimp in my tank and they have never bothered any of my clams... as long as there healthy. Placement is key depending on lighting. Also depending on the species you pick it may be important for them to have something solid to secure them selves on. During quarantine a friend recommended I use a sea shell under neath for them to attach there roots to. I found this worked great for two clams yet not for another.