Whodunnit - Crocea murdered in the night

[hammondegge]

I woke up to find our new (3weeks in the tank) crocea dead and picked apart. Who could have done it. We also have a flame scallop that has been in there about as long as anything and it has never been disturbed. Here is the cast of characters

yellow tang
ocellaris clown
cinnamon clown
coral beauty
mandarin
lawnmower blenny
cleaner shrimps
peppermint shrimp
nassarias
trocus
cerith
astrea
hermits
probably still a gorilla crab or two
bristle worms
serpent star

[LoneStar]

hmmm sure it didn't die? Once clams turn south I've seen them die overnight and just disentigrate to nothing but the shell by morning.....The usual suspects could have just cleaned up the crime scene.

[ansonluna]

How big was it? If it was small, speaking from experience, they tend to die easily. I had a max. dissapear within 4 1/2 hrs, I know because that is how long my work shift is. Nothing but gleaming white inside the shell when I walked in the door.....but I have had a large dersa for ever and never had a problem.

[hammondegge]

Well, it has remained healthy (just like the picture) for three weeks and looked like that late last night. If it just died, what would have caused it?
it was 2.5-3 inches

[Reef69]

Probably starved and died..Clams that small need to be fed pytho in a separate container..

[hammondegge]

I thought that once they had thier coloration that they rely predominantly on the symbiotic algae.

[pilot_bell777]

good rule of thumb is anything under 3" and really a good idea up to 3 1/2 - 4" you hand feed.

[Reef69]

...And a gorgeous clam i may add.

[hammondegge]

well, i just checked into that on the clamsdirect forum. the consensus seems to be that a clam smaller than 2 inches doesnt have enough mantle area to properly sustain growth. It is suggested below this size to feed in seperate container. this one has fresh shell growth and the tank was receiving phyto and zoo plankton. so i do not think that is it. but i will do more research before introducing another. thanks for the info.
PS. i suspect the peppermint shrimp. have read only recently that they can cause trouble with clams. has anyone experienced this?

[Reef69]

Oh, and that anemone looks bleached..

[hammondegge]

Oh, and that anemone looks bleached..
yep, it pretty much is. it is a rescue attempt. i have been feeding it regularly for about three months now. any suggestions on getting the zoo back?

[Reef69]

Yeah, as close to the light as possible..feed it once a day..should come back..not high flow, since it will stress more and expell the rest of the algea out..

[hammondegge]

thanks, it has settled into a pretty bright spot and i have been feeding about every three days. i will try daily for a while.

[hammondegge]

MH 175 10k and 190w vho actinic on a 40g tank

[hammondegge]

lamp is new ushio bulb, and clam was about 14 inches from bulb. i acclimated it to the light when it was introduced.
thanks for all the input