How to remove Crocea from rock

[Nanook]

Hello,

I have a pretty nice Crocea clam that is bored into some liverock that is going into a tank with minimal light. How can I get him off the rock without hurting him? The tank he is NOW in is going to have a NO bulb or two at best.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Nanook

 

[mbbuna]

how far is the clam bored in? Can you tip the clam to one side at all? if you can tip it enough to get a small thin knife under it and just gently drag the knife along the rock keeping it as far away from the clam as you can you should be able to remove it.

you could also try to gently rock the clam back and forth for a while, just dont put too much pressure on the byssal gland

 

[Nanook]

It doesn't rock back and forth very much....but, it has only been in the tank a couple months or so. It is down in a crevice and would be tough to access with a knife.

Will the lack of light in the tank it is in help to get it to loosen up?

 

[mbbuna]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9371933#post9371933 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Nanook


Will the lack of light in the tank it is in help to get it to loosen up?

ive heard of people shading there clams to get them to let go but IMO thats not very good for the clam.

you say its in a crevice, is this one solid rock or two next to each other?

when Croceas are collected in the wild they either take a hooked knife and slide it under them or chip the rock on one side then cut the byssal threads

 

[Nanook]

It is on a sizable piece of Marshall rock...I can try getting under it with something and gently pry...I am just leary to hurt the clam.

 

[mbbuna]

don't pry(much) i mean you are going to have to lift it some to cut the threads, and you will feel it resist and try to clamp down but if you want to remove it it has to be done. the important thing is to not tear the gland from prying it or to not cut the gland, you only want to cut the byssal threads. the threads are like hair, the clam wont feel a thing