Clam shell broke in two

[fastjunkie]

I have about a 6" squamosa which it's shell broke into two halves.....basically the "hinge" on the underside of the shell seperated.He still has some control over the shell....he can close it when he is aggrevated but it can barely open up....just enough to see the mouth and put the siphon tube out.Has anyone ever had this happen?Will the shell ever grow back together?Any input will be greatly appreciated.

 

[smy168]

Squas are pretty hardy, my friend's squa had a shell split, what he did was prop small rocks on both sides of the clam, it almost came back completely but wasn't strong enough for the long haul, his was only 3.5 inches so it was fairly young. Give it a try and if it isn't helping in 7 to 10 days them remove the clam, a dying clam can really mess up your water params. Is this the clams you found the sundials on?

 

[Gobie]

A clam can grow a new hinge. If you can use something to keep it together long enough and have it able to open and close properly it will be fine.

Maybe use epoxy to form hooks and use rubber bands or fishing line, after hooking the bands on epoxy them on the hooks so they wonââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t come off. After the clam heals you can remove the epoxy.

 

[fastjunkie]

Thanx for the replys guys...............SMY,this is the clam I found the snails on.

 

[fastjunkie]

SMY.....I'm wondering if the snails did attack my clam from the under side...maybe thats how it came un-hinged?

 

[smy168]

hey Junkie,
Well, the politically correct term wouldn't be attack, they just "feed' on specific animals. It could be, from my experience the snails tend to enter the most vunerable area of the clam and that would probably be it. The byssal is what I consider the strength of a clam, it attaches the clam as well as harnesses the muscles that snaps the shells together.

i think you may be ok, but definitely get the snails off and see what you can do about supporting the two sides with some rubble. don't place the rubble to close so that the clam can't open because it may damage the clam even further, give the clam roughly half an inch between rock and shell so that it can still kind of open and close on it's own.

Good Luck and keep us posted.

 

[fastjunkie]

Will do...thanx again SMY!!!

 

[fastjunkie]

SMY,
I took your advice and set him up on some rock rubble,and low and behold,he's opened up about half way..which is twice as much as he was before!!!
Thanx,
Mike

 

[smy168]

Hey Junkie,
Glad it's working out for you, keep a close eye ont he clam moving forward and hopefully everything comes back.