Clam moving- unnecessary steps?

jmaneyapanda

Commencing hatred
I have been reading a lot of posts recently about people wanting to move their clams around in their tanks, for one reason or another. I have always been under the impression and observation that moving clams is a potentially risky ball of wax. It can be done, but shjould only be done when really needed. Primarily this applies to the clams which secrete and rely on byssal threads (croceas, maximas, ...) Do you all think I am being overly cautious and sensitive about this? Many threads I read sound like this, "my clam is opening fine, and seems healthy, but I want to move him over here", or "I was rearranging my rocks and need to get this clam off the piece I want to put a (insert coral name here)". These absolutely do not seem like good enough reasons to move a clam to me.
Everyone who buys a clams should know and realize that these are realsitically sedentary animals. I understand some do move voluntary, particularly to find appropriate conditions of their liking, but more are less do not move about like a crab, or shrimp, or LPS which does not firmly and sensitively attach.
I know I am preaching to the choir, but I have began to wonder whether I am not looking at this appropriately. Is moving clams from location to location not that big a deal?
 
Re: Clam moving- unnecessary steps?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7632184#post7632184 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jmaneyapanda
Is moving clams from location to location not that big a deal?

IMO its not a big deal (within reason)

i wouldn't like to see someone moving a clam from a 175wMH to a 400w with out proper accumulation. but moving it under the same lighting in the same water conditions because, a coral is shading it or something is irritating it or something like that is fine.

that said, i would agree that it is best to not have to move the clam
 
I just hope when a clam is ready to be moved, it is done so properly. I cant tell you how many clams Ive seen or heard about that have been pulled, pryed, or twisted from their foothold. To me, this is no different that torturing a reef fish, or any animal for that matter.
 
It's no big deal if the clam is attached to something small so that it doesn't have to be pryed everytime it is moved. Many people allow their clam to attach to an oyster shell or small piece of rock, then they place them according to the needs of the clam and what they want.

just my .02
 
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