injured derasa mantle with pics

[12gallonbaby]

Ok so i have had this derasa for about 3 months and he was doing great and growing like a weed. His about 1 inch long and was fine untill this weekend. I left for the tank for 2 days to go home and when i came back he was on his side and hermit crabs were crawling all over him and i picked him up and put him back in the sand. this morning he is opened partially and thats when i saw that part of his matle seems to have been torn away. I cant post any pics yet cuz my camera is out of battery but ill try later today. I just want to know if this is going to hurt him or kill him? what can i do? does it mean he is on his way out? do i need to give him special care?

Help!

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[a4twenty]

what fish / inverts do you have?

 

[12gallonbaby]

i have two black occys, a purple firefish, and a chalk basselet, and for inverts all i have are red leg hermits, serith snails, turbo snails, and an anemone but that isnt anywhere near my clam.

 

[12gallonbaby]

bump

 

[12gallonbaby]

just an update but it was been two days and he is still opening up and nothing is harming him. I guess what i would like to know now is can a clams mantle grow back and if it does how long does it take? And should i create a little cover for him out of ziploc tupperwear to keep everything away from him while he heals?

 

[a4twenty]

yes he can heal and if the CUC is leaving him alone he should be able to no problem. if they come back, cover the clam with half a pop bottle with some holes in it for flow but high enough no crabs can get in.

maybe post another pic or two, it is very hard to see what damage there is, other than the mantle retracted.