Killer in the tank

[DaFrog]

There is a killer in my tank - Its targets are:
1) Loose ricordia
2) Lettuce Seaslugs/nudibranch
3) Tridacna Clam
- I got a small (3") clam from my LFS yesterday - It was nicely opened last night but is dead today - With only the matle remaining - all the flesh is gone

Any ideas?

Should I leave the clam in the tank as a bait for the 'predator'?

Thxs

-Nicolas

 

[Reef Goalie]

Could be a mantis shrimp. I had a beautiful clam doing just fine then , BAM, hacked up on the inside. Found the mantis (maybe 1.25") crawling through the clam innards, mocking me. By next morning, the mantle was stripped clean. Since I've seen him, my snail and hermit population has slowly declined. I got Florida rock shipment about three months ago so I guess he hitchiked his way in.

There are other potential causes but this was my latest experience.

I would definitely bait the mantis out if possible. Easier said than done, but a homemade small plastic water bottle trap has worked for me in the past.