Will this kill my clam?

[TankMan]

To pull it off the live rock with the foot firmly attached? I need to do a FWD due to pinching and the mantle not fully expanding as it once did. I can't cut it out, or any of the other methods often prescribed due to where it is on the rock. If I pull it off, will I kill it? Has anyone had success doing this? I hate doing nothing and watching it's slow demise, I'd rather take a risk to help it. It's a 5" crocea and has been attached about 2 months now. Thx, Tim

 

[Drewpy]

I had a crocea that i moved--- it died. The new one i have i am not going to move... Can you move the rock to the left out of it's way?

*There are ways to move it so before you "pull it off" wait for someone to explain how... I am not experienced in doing that but i know first hand it has to be done carefully.

Also--if it has attached firmly it may be happy where it is-- despite what you think it wants...

 

[TankMan]

To move rocks around would be near impossible since these are the base rocks and very large. You may be right, though, that it seems very happy despite what I think! I just hate to see the mantle not expand fully and be "pinching" if a FWD would help as others have seemed to have success with. Thx, Tim

 

[FunkieReefJunkie]

Lost a clam of six years due to adding a new clam not knowing about this protozoan causing pinched mantles. My experience is after awhile the clams will weaken and let go on their own. But by that time their reactivity is really low. Your kind of damned if you do and damned if you don't.

I read through an obscenely long thread on the FW and the newer treatment with metro. It seems the success is temporary with FW because the little buggers remain in the tank. But if you treat with metronidazole in quarantine for ten days and leave the main tank without clams for as long as you can you can possibly nip it in the bud. They talked about using it in the main tank but messing with the ecosystem maid me uneasy. I ordered some from KT Vet Supply via amazon.com, 100 tabs/250 mg each for 13.99 two days ago an received it this morning. The quarantine tank has xenia and a damsel in it as well and they haven't reacted badly thus far.