Moving a clam?

[darkcirca]

I'm going to be adding new rock to my tank finally, but I've added 2 clams since. One has since taken hold on a rock (the new Crocea), is there a way to move him off or will this hurt him? I know they attach with their foot, which is why I am asking. I don't want to hurt him and if there isn't a way, I will just make the rock fit somehow with him on it.

Thanks in advance.

 

[skinz78]

Never pull clams off of rocks. They need to be cut away. Just take a sharp knife or razorblade and carefully cut the byssal threads as far away from the clam and as close to the rock as possible.

 

[fali]

I usually hold the clam and LIGHTLY tug on it a little bit. Just pull, twist and turn gently back and forth. Your goal is not to detach the clam off yourself but to force it to do it on its own. This process can take a while like 5-10 mins(even longer) but with patience and persistance the clam will eventually cut the attachment itself.

But DO NOT yank the clam or pull it off with force cause that can kill it.

I did this 3 or 4 times already with my croceas with great success. I don't know about the other species though.

 

[mbbuna]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11254238#post11254238 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by fali
I usually hold the clam and LIGHTLY tug on it a little bit. Just pull, twist and turn gently back and forth. Your goal is not to detach the clam off yourself but to force it to do it on its own. This process can take a while like 5-10 mins(even longer) but with patience and persistance the clam will eventually cut the attachment itself.

But DO NOT yank the clam or pull it off with force cause that can kill it.

I did this 3 or 4 times already with my croceas with great success. I don't know about the other species though.

please never do this!

by doing this you put pressure on the byssal gland and could pull the gland out or rip the byssal threads from the gland leading to infection.

by tipping the clam to one side and cutting the byssal threads as far away from the clam as you can you wont harm the clam at all. the byssal threads are a glandular secretion and have no blood flow or nerve endings. the clam wont feel a thing and there is no risk of infection. and the best part is that it takes like 10secondes

 

[darkcirca]

I will cut it as far as possible. Thank you for this. I didn't want to hurt my new clam . I'm off to rearrange and add new live rock to my tank (just bought another 90lbs to add, 4 large pieces).

 

[mbbuna]

good luck!! dont worry, as long as you cut where the threads attach to the rock you will be fine. and dont forget photos of the new setup

 

[darkcirca]

Didn't even have to cut him. I picked up the rock with him, and went to nudge him to cut it and he just let go. He's chilling in the sump right now as we finish moving all this rock. Can't decide what we like, or even how to put it. Such a pain.

 

[NanoReefWanabe]

i cut mine from a rock a while ago and he took a long time secreting new threads to attach..i dont think it was overly happy in the new spots i tried him..now he has a very strong hold where he is...

 

[darkcirca]

Figured I'd update. The clam is now at the top of the tank, about 10"-15" below the light fixture. His colors seem to be coming back more, but for the time being I will not bother him for pictures (he's not found of me turning off the power heads and standing above him).

I haven't seen if he has taken hold yet, but he hasn't moved since I placed him there last night. He was wide open all today. Makes me feel a lot better, hate to bother everything in the tank, but I really needed that extra rock.

Here's a picture.

You can see the clam on the right of the two evil clownfish. They host the overflow, and will bite you when you are working on the tank (had to deal with them all last night, they are lucky to be alive after that).

To the left of the frogspawn (left side) is the Maxima. He will most likely be moved as I do not want him to get stung. He is on a disk though, so I can easily move him. He seems fine right now, no retraction or anything yet.