detached hinge

[Finn450]

A few weeks ago I noticed my derasa was not aligned properly...broken hinge. I spent the last week repositioning it, in hopes it would heal itself. I came across the prosthetic fix posted here. I used a frag plug...cut the base off, then cut the post in half. Superglue the post pieces to the clam and secure a rubberband for the hinge. Clam is fully open, and last night was the first night in 2 weeks it remained in position.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Glad the clam is doing better!

 

[Finn450]

Glad the clam is doing better!

thank you...it was one of those "it'll never work" things that's actually made a world of difference for my clam.

 

[spsick]

@Finn450 how is your clam doing now? My big one just broke his hinge.

 

[minus9]

@Finn450 how is your clam doing now? My big one just broke his hinge.

How deep is your sand? I think one of the issues people are having is not keeping larger clams on deep sand and letting them touch the glass with their shells, this isn't good for larger clams.

 

[spsick]

How deep is your sand? I think one of the issues people are having is not keeping larger clams on deep sand and letting them touch the glass with their shells, this isn't good for larger clams.

Interesting. It was over an inch but he as slamming shut and blasting it all away so ended up on the bottom pane as you say.

 

[Finn450]

@Finn450 how is your clam doing now? My big one just broke his hinge.

Unfortunately I lost the clam a couple weeks ago. The hinge repair was a temporary fix that gave the clam a couple months more. The more I researched, I found that that's usually the end result.

 

[PharmrJohn]

Unfortunately I lost the clam a couple weeks ago. The hinge repair was a temporary fix that gave the clam a couple months more. The more I researched, I found that that's usually the end result.

That's tough. Nice try tho. When I read the post I was thinking Door. And how easy of a fix is that! Why is he posting?! But no. You made a really great effort. A+

 

[hobie61]

What causes clams to separate at their hinge? Can they be saved if this happens?

I had a nice 4" Maxima for about 4 months. Seemed to be healthy and doing well, but noticed it never attached to the rockwork. Was on the upper portion of the rockwork under radion lights. Last week i noticed it was tipped on its side, so i propped the clam back up. Then further noticed that one side of the shell was quite a bit lower than the other. Still responding to light. Time passed, and noticed not opening up very much. I pulled the clam for inspection, and the one half was no longer attached. I assumed the clam was a goner and didnt want to pollute my 45 gal tank. Its been operating for a couple of years. I also noticed a BTA had came close to the clam. Not sure if this caused the problems. Would like to get another clam. Being cautious and trying to be informed.

Thanks for your time to review. Much appreciated.

 

[minus9]

What causes clams to separate at their hinge? Can they be saved if this happens?

I had a nice 4" Maxima for about 4 months. Seemed to be healthy and doing well, but noticed it never attached to the rockwork. Was on the upper portion of the rockwork under radion lights. Last week i noticed it was tipped on its side, so i propped the clam back up. Then further noticed that one side of the shell was quite a bit lower than the other. Still responding to light. Time passed, and noticed not opening up very much. I pulled the clam for inspection, and the one half was no longer attached. I assumed the clam was a goner and didnt want to pollute my 45 gal tank. Its been operating for a couple of years. I also noticed a BTA had came close to the clam. Not sure if this caused the problems. Would like to get another clam. Being cautious and trying to be informed.

Thanks for your time to review. Much appreciated.

It can be from several causes, injuries, genetics, poor conditions, possible pathogens or compromised immune system? I just lost a small derasa to this and I think it’ it was a combo of poor health (from supplier) and genetics. I got the clam site unseen, which was the first time I ever bought a clam this way (I got an amazing deal on two clams), so I didn’t have the opportunity to hand pick the clam, otherwise I wouldn’t have chosen this particular clam. I thought I could nurse it back to health, but that only goes so far.
I think a lot of people have this issue from injuries (falls, etc) but I also think a lot of people keep larger clams on bare bottom, which is a no-no in my book. And I’m referring to the larger species, gigas and derasa (and some squamosa).