You see so many coral/nem warfare posts I have to throw this up. My carpet has gotten quite large (dinner plate or so) and given the place he took footing he lays against a large candycane, a large ORA Bird of Paradise, a large ORA Spongades, and a 9" Deresa clam. I can move the clam and within days he scoots around until he tucks up against the carpet nem again. The candycane has actually grown more heads where it contacts the nem, and both the SPS have had normal growth and polyp extension. The clam's mantle touches the nem ALL the time and nothing. I've expected the worst, but nada.....everybody is happy. Just another weird aspect in my tank (tangs and wrasses also get along that should have killed each other a year ago). You see so many "My nem just killed my corals" that I had to throw this out. Now granted I have had BTA's kill stuff before, but for some reason this carpet doesn't seem to hurt anybody....and he's rediculously sticky.
Carpet Nem, SPS, LPS, and Clam Living in Harmony
- Thread starter jonboyb
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seth the wine guy
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That's really cool to hear. I want a bio-diverse selection of fish and corals and I've heard so many horror stories. Good to know it's at least POSSIBLE.
I don't want to sound like I'm recommending anyone do this......it's just that the critters in my tank are getting quite large so it's inevitable that certain species are forced into mingling. I'm just thrilled that it doesn't appear anything is really irritated. With a dinner plate carpet, 9" clam, 20+ head candycane, 8" Spongades, and 6" Bird of Paradise on one side of a 93 gallon tank....space disaapears quickly.
The nem has been hitting the candycane, Spongades, and Bird of Paradise for months with no effects....but the clam is only in the past couple of weeks so I hope it fares well since it's determined to be against the nem:doh:
I also have large colonies of Tub's Birdnest, ORA Oregon Tort, ORA Tri-Color Valida, and Tyree Sunset Montipora that have literally grown into a twisted mess with not so much as a white branch. The Sunset will get a little white ever so often around the edge....but then it comes right back. Corals are so hard to understand sometimes. Never thought they would get along so I kept pruning them but then just gave up (too hard to get rid of frags these days). Now they are 6 months or so grown together and happy:thumbs:
The nem has been hitting the candycane, Spongades, and Bird of Paradise for months with no effects....but the clam is only in the past couple of weeks so I hope it fares well since it's determined to be against the nem:doh:
I also have large colonies of Tub's Birdnest, ORA Oregon Tort, ORA Tri-Color Valida, and Tyree Sunset Montipora that have literally grown into a twisted mess with not so much as a white branch. The Sunset will get a little white ever so often around the edge....but then it comes right back. Corals are so hard to understand sometimes. Never thought they would get along so I kept pruning them but then just gave up (too hard to get rid of frags these days). Now they are 6 months or so grown together and happy:thumbs:
Some corals will keep nems at bay. I know some millis will hold back rbtas. My rbta was against a crocea clam I had, never bothered it...but when it was touching my derasa, it seemed to be a little bothered...retracting it's mantle every now and then. While it is best to keep a distance between all corals, it is sometimes hard to do so. So just keep a close watch for any irritation. What seems to be ok one day, may be dead the next.
