Looking to New Tank

[yardboy]

I've got a 4" maxima I've had for 8 months and he's doing quite well. Only problem is I've bought him a new tank and he's attached to the bottom of the old one. I haven't started the move yet, but wondering just how I'll go about moving him. I can clean everything out from around him and maybe get a scraper under, or what? I really want him to be happy in his new place, but don't want to injury him in moving.
Any advice is very much appreciated.

[512148048]

from what i have heard messing with them and trying to remove then is normaly fatal. that is why people put them on shells and small rocks that are easy to move. i havent heard of any way to remove them though. just dont want u to lose it good luck

[yardboy]

Thanks. I sure hope I can do something with it. Hate to have to keep the smaller tank forever! I sat him on a rock when I first got him, and my evil blue damsel knocked him off, and the next morning he was anchored to the bottom. Bummer.

[aliendomain]

You can move them you just need to be careful when doing it. You first want to slowly tip the clam to one side so you can see the byssal threads that are attaching the clam to the glass, or whatever. Then with a new clean razor blade, cut the threads and only the threads. Cutting the tissue at the opening or the byssal gland can lead to infection so be careful. All and all it's not too hard, just take your time.

AlienDomain

[yardboy]

I've got the idea in my mind that I can clear out the area and sort of get underneath the attachment point with the razor blade, like with corraline algae. Is that what you are saying?

[Casey]

Yep Roger use a clean blade and go 4 it should be fine you dont wanna know how many times I have had to do it.

[MiddletonMark]

Originally posted by aliendomain
You can move them you just need to be careful when doing it. You first want to slowly tip the clam to one side so you can see the byssal threads that are attaching the clam to the glass, or whatever. Then with a new clean razor blade, cut the threads and only the threads. Cutting the tissue at the opening or the byssal gland can lead to infection so be careful. All and all it's not too hard, just take your time.

Great description ... that's almost exactly what Knop says in his `giant clams' book. I was suprised as I heard that it was just about certain clam death ... but it's quite a great book.

Had it borrowed from a reef club friend ... but plan on buying it instead of [before] a second clam. Seemed like Borneman's aquarium corals book - I learn so much from it, every read, that it's essential equipment for good caretaking of these awesome creatures.

If you're concerned about doing it ... take your time, read the above post ... and maybe find a LFS with that book and read the appropriate pages from Knop.

[Casey]

Exactly pg 169

[aliendomain]

Just as a note when you get a clam from a LFS, hover over person getting the clam out of the tank to make sure they cut the byssal threads vs. just ripping the clam off of what it has attached to this alone can help your success with your purchase.

[Casey]

Well Roger when are you getting the tank dude??

[jeepjon]

Read Delbeek and Sprung's Reef Aquarium...you can use the tip method and just cut the byssal threads. If you only cut the threads, the animal should be fine.

[yardboy]

I called them last week and there was some problem with the bracing. Following Geoff's suggestions, I have a back center overflow with CLS overflows on each side of that. The CLS overflows are narrower and so when they went to put in the perimeter bracing it covered most of the overflow, so I think they were going to widen the overflows.
I can't get to it now anyway, very very busy at work until the New Year, then it's off to the Keys for a welcome break (and maybe some substrate!) I'm planning on stopping in Tampa to get some LR on the way back. Is there only one place to get it there, or do you have a list of places to go?(Casey)

[Casey]

I dont have a list but TBS is the one we talked about has great rock.

[yardboy]

I'm still hoping that since he's attached to the glass I'll be able to scrape him off, with no cutting involved. I've grown very attached to him. Genie says he's her favorite. We've had him for over six months and he's got a nice white rim of growth about an inch wide. Very beautiful and active.
By the way, he has a small white featherduster on the underside of his shell. Do I need to get that off there, will it bother him? Been on there for several weeks.

[Casey]

Na it wont bother him I have several like that, If you do it carefully he will come off no prob.