Moving an established Maxima Clam

M

ms71171

I have a Maxima Clam that has grown too big for the rock hole he mounted to.

It's not a problem yet, but invitebly it will outgrow the hole. I've heard they will move on their own, but not sure.

Should I try carefully pulling his "foot" loose and moving him myself?
 
Do not pull on him. You can damage the bysal gland by pulling on him. Is he attached where you can access the bysal area? If you can access the bottom of the clam, you can CAREFULLY tip him to the side and cut the bysal threads with a razor blade as far away from the shell as possible. There is no other way to safey remove him from his rock. If you damage the bysal gland he will not survive. After you romove hime from the rock, the best thing to do is let him attach to an empty half clam shell and then place the shell where you want him to be.
Good luck with moving him.
Mary
 
Not really. He's in there pretty tight. If I tried, which I have not yet, I could see if I could get an exacto knife under him.

Honestly it sounds scary and near impossible. Do you think it will move on its own eventually? I would assume they do this in the wild.
 
Maxima and Crocea are rock dwelling clams. They secrete enzimes that actually disolve the rock to make room for them to grow. He should be able to do that as long as the rock is dead coral that is calcerous. He must be pretty happy where he is or he would not be attached and growing. A picture of him might help and we like clam pics:)
Good luck
Mary
 
Thanks Mary, I'll take some once my lights come on. That's fascinating how they disolve the rocks. I love these clams. I have a super-fast growing Derasa also.
 
Once clams get to a certain size they will release their bysal threads and just use their weight to stay in one place. I recently decided to move a 4.5" maxima that was partially hidden behind a my rockwork. I thought I was going to have to cut the bysal threads but it did not have any attached.
 
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