Copperbands and Display Clams

[Pete H.]

Hello everyone. I am wondering what are your thoughts on copperband butterfly fish with clams such as deresa, maxima, etc? I have a large Deresa clam I love and my wife is quite fond of the copperband. Wondering what are the chances that they get along ok. or is the clam just a very expensive dinner?

Anyone with experience?

 

[Reefing Madness]

I had a clam once, with my copperband, the clam didn't make it.

 

[Pete H.]

thanks for the response. Was the clam eaten by the copperband? would love a bit more info.

 

[Reefing Madness]

Not eaten entirely by the fish.The copperband kept picking at the insides, enough so that the clam could not close anymore, and that was then end of that.

 

[pickupman66]

i would love to try one with my CBB. he has been extremely reef friendly since I bought him (pods and aptasia aside). but I just can put myself to spend $100 on that risk.

 

[fish master]

they like to pick at the mantle of the clam .Once this starts thr clam is history . Good luck to you/

 

[Pete H.]

Well, seems as though it is a serious risk at best. Thanks all

 

[rworegon]

I've had a copperband in my 90 gal with three clams, derasa, maxima, and squmosa (sp.?), for about a year and a half. So far a model citizen. Can't say so much for acans or favia though. My copperband eats shaved scallops and mysis shrimp. I got him used to eating these in qaurantine.

 

[rhayes]

These two have been together for over 8 months. The copperband nipped at the calm a few times when I first introduced the copperband. I stopped it by feeding him heavily for a few weeks then slowed down. No problems since then.

 

[Pete H.]

Lucky dog. I really want to try one. Lol

 

[Eric81]

I have had my copper band with two maxims clams for almost a year now. Just luck of the draw I guess....

 

[Archie]

i have a crocea since may 2013 and purchased a chelmon rostratus september last yr. I also bought a baby maxima (around 2 inches). he just leaves them alone and have never seen bother them. hope this helps

 

[sanchoy]

I had 1 cbb vs 1 clam = cbb

 

[Ms. Mermaid]

This is good info but so far it is sounding like the majority here is that the CBB will eat the clams with a very few exceptions.

 

[SaltyCrew4u]

Just purchased a copperband without doing all the right research. I asked what I thought was all the right questions, reef friendly, good with other fish but left out clams... Any chance my maxima might survive? Debating on bringing it back tomorrow. My maxima is about a year old and it's been with me the longest.

 

[malacoda]

Just purchased a copperband without doing all the right research. I asked what I thought was all the right questions, reef friendly, good with other fish but left out clams... Any chance my maxima might survive? Debating on bringing it back tomorrow. My maxima is about a year old and it's been with me the longest.

There's always a chance. But there is never a guarantee. As you can see from just this thread alone, for some people it works out, for many others it doesn't.

As with everything we put in our tanks, it all boils down to whether or not you're willing to take the risk.

Only you can really decide that.