Moving Clam?

SWaquariast · 03/29/2008, 06:04 PM

I'm wanting to move my clam from off my rock to my sand, is it ok to break their anchor?

bearpeidog · 03/30/2008, 05:17 PM

What kind of clam? If had heard you could kill them if you injure the foot.

Google search resulted in: "Be very careful where you place your Tridacna clams. Once in the tank, croceas and maximas will attach themselves to the rock with their byssal organ (the clam's "foot"). In many cases, if you try to move the clam after being attached, you will damage the foot, and kill the clam"

Best let someone more knowledgable answer - but wanted to give you a quick heads up as I remembered this could be deadly to a clam.

BLKTANG · 03/30/2008, 05:49 PM

bearpeidog is right.

lshark21 · 03/30/2008, 06:36 PM

I have heard that you can aim a powerhead at the clam or hold the rock upside down then cut the byssal thread and the clam will be fine, but I would ask in the Clam forum before doing either method.

Why do you wan to move the clam to the sand? You have PCs, right?

SSalty · 03/30/2008, 07:12 PM

Live rock is usually easy to break. Try taking a small chisel or flat head screw driver and use a hammer to try and break the peice of live rock that the foot is attached to.

swilcoxen · 03/30/2008, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SWaquariast
I'm wanting to move my clam from off my rock to my sand, is it ok to break their anchor?

I had aksed this question before and was told that pulling the clam off of the rock would kill it. The bysall threads are supposedly like fingernails and/or hair. That is, they have no feeling. I was told to take a razor and cut as far away from the clam as possible to detach it from the rock. I know I'm only a case study of one, but it worked for me. I moved my maxima clam to a new location, it re-attached, and has been going strong ever since. In fact, it's grown significantly since then.

Hope this helps.

kfisc · 03/30/2008, 08:09 PM

Agreed, razor will do it- very slowly; but if it's attached and presumably happy on the rock, why move it? Clams seem to provoke a sense of wanting to move them around until they look good to us- but I think it's best to just leave them be, if they're open and attached (=happy clam).

ReefTECK · 03/30/2008, 10:35 PM

I use a scappel, gently push the clam to one side so I can fit my blade in and carefully cut the bysus threads. These threads are secreted by the bysus organ, and will grow back. If you put much pressure on that by pushing too hard, you can pull the bysus organ out of the bottom of the clam and they will eventually die.

Croeceas and Maximmas are more difficult to cut out because their bysus organ also secretes a chemical that dissolves the calcarous rock beneath them, allowing their valves to settle into the rock, and thus become more sheltered.

Try to pull the rock that he is on out and get it at eye level if you can to gently.

And agreed, if it's showing signs of good health and your moving it for personal reasons, reconsider, maybe you don't feel like messing with him after all.

03/29/2008, 06:04 PM	#1
SWaquariast Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: USA Posts: 745	Moving Clam? I'm wanting to move my clam from off my rock to my sand, is it ok to break their anchor? __________________ Mitch Current Tank Info: 20g Mixed reef aquarium.

03/30/2008, 05:49 PM	#3
BLKTANG Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Never,Never Land Posts: 7,061	bearpeidog is right. __________________ We the few have done so much,for so long,for so little.That we are now qualified to do anything with nothing. ____________________________________________________________________________ Current Tank Info: RR 90 Maganvore sump,250w Hamilton fixture,VorTec's ASM skimmer.

03/30/2008, 07:12 PM	#5
SSalty Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 562	Live rock is usually easy to break. Try taking a small chisel or flat head screw driver and use a hammer to try and break the peice of live rock that the foot is attached to. __________________ "once you've tasted excess, everything else tastes bland"

03/30/2008, 10:35 PM	#8
ReefTECK Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Iowa City, Iowa Posts: 901	I use a scappel, gently push the clam to one side so I can fit my blade in and carefully cut the bysus threads. These threads are secreted by the bysus organ, and will grow back. If you put much pressure on that by pushing too hard, you can pull the bysus organ out of the bottom of the clam and they will eventually die. Croeceas and Maximmas are more difficult to cut out because their bysus organ also secretes a chemical that dissolves the calcarous rock beneath them, allowing their valves to settle into the rock, and thus become more sheltered. Try to pull the rock that he is on out and get it at eye level if you can to gently. And agreed, if it's showing signs of good health and your moving it for personal reasons, reconsider, maybe you don't feel like messing with him after all. __________________ 2013 President of the Greater Iowa Reef Society www.iowareefs.org Current Tank Info: 120 Gallon Tank, 96 DIY LED's on 3 channels, 30gal sump/fuge, 4x2x0.5' & 40gal frag tank, SRO Ca rxr, GSA Kalk rxr, SRO 3000 skmr, Gen-X PCX40 Return, 2xMP40w's, 1xTunze 6101, 140lbs LR, SSB, SPS all the way!

03/30/2008, 05:17 PM	#2
bearpeidog Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Milton, Vermont Posts: 560	What kind of clam? If had heard you could kill them if you injure the foot. Google search resulted in: "Be very careful where you place your Tridacna clams. Once in the tank, croceas and maximas will attach themselves to the rock with their byssal organ (the clam's "foot"). In many cases, if you try to move the clam after being attached, you will damage the foot, and kill the clam" Best let someone more knowledgable answer - but wanted to give you a quick heads up as I remembered this could be deadly to a clam.

03/30/2008, 06:36 PM	#4
lshark21 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: North Huntingdon, PA Posts: 156	I have heard that you can aim a powerhead at the clam or hold the rock upside down then cut the byssal thread and the clam will be fine, but I would ask in the Clam forum before doing either method. Why do you wan to move the clam to the sand? You have PCs, right?

03/30/2008, 08:09 PM	#7
kfisc Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 2,020	Agreed, razor will do it- very slowly; but if it's attached and presumably happy on the rock, why move it? Clams seem to provoke a sense of wanting to move them around until they look good to us- but I think it's best to just leave them be, if they're open and attached (=happy clam).