Moving a Maxima

[brians_224]

Thanks for your time!

I need to relocate my maxima with in my tank - I reaquascaped, now hes in the shade. Is there anything I should be aware of? Do they have roots or anything? How do I go about relocating?

Thanks again!

 

[fishieness]

move the rock he is on to a desired place. or, if you cannot, then yes, they do have "root"
the bysuss threads or foot that is located near the joint of the clam shell. do not pull! this will kill the clam. you can try rocking the clam back and forth EXTREAMLY GENTLY. do not put any force to it. just try to tip it a little big. it could take a very long time to do this. or you could cut the threads as far away form the clam as possible! if you pull too hard or cut too close, you can shorted the lifespan of the clam to hours.
my suggestion:
move the rock or reaquascape so the clam is in the sun. just in case. you wouldnt want to make a mistake and kill it. this is why i havent moved mine. lol

 

[sundance1]

I would just move the rock a little,forceing them off a rock should be a last resort.

 

[brians_224]

Thanks for your posts!

I did as you recomended and left him undistrubed on his rock and incorporated it with in my new aquascaping.

Question:
I transfered all rock and livestock to a holding tank with a powerhead and heater for about 24 hours. When I placed him back into the display, I did everything I could to match temp and SG - it was VERY VERY CLOSE.

This morning was the first morning in its new location. The clam hasn't had mh lighting for 42 hours. The clams mantel isn't fully extended as ussual and the 'waste' hole seems a little larger than normal, about the size of my pinky fingernail, maybe a little longer - long and narrow. Is this gaping? The shell seems open as much as ussual - not very wide - I'd say ~1/4 on a 3 inch clam. Its still reactive to shadows and such. I placed him at about the same height as he was previously.

Is this just the stress of the event or am I in serious trouble? Should I do anything?

 

[d4a2n0k]

Yes thats gaping. Hes probably just a little stressed out from the move and no light. Just monitor him the next few days, he should pull through.

 

[brians_224]

Thanks for your time and posts!

so gaping refers to the waste hole being open large? Do you have any links to clear examples of gaping?

 

[d4a2n0k]

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=161646&highlight=gaping+clam+picture

While this is quite normal for Crocea's, which is whats pictured, it is not for Maxima's. A healthy Maxima will not open like that. Is yours as extreme as the link I posted?

 

[fishieness]

you didnt acclimate the clam back? there are more things that the clam would need to be acclimated to than the temp and SG. i think those factors along with the absence of light and the move caused it.