HELP - Derasa Clam Hinge issues!!!

[SaltLife77]

Hi there!

I have a 2 year old Derasa Clam and it's hinge is partially disconnected. I have heard legend of making a prosthetic hinge, can anyone offer advice? I uploaded a pic, it's the larger clam. It's still opening and closing per norm. Tank parameters stable, no additions to the tank etc.

Any advice is appreciated!!!!! Thank you!

Sincerely,

Panicked in Cleveland

 

[exnisstech]

I lost my derasa to a broken hinge. It sucked because it was the first clam I was able to keep alive long term. It grew from a little 2 incher to over 6" in a year and a half. I talked to a few people online that had tried different methods to make a type of prosthetic but I was not able to find anyone who had success for any period of time so I did not attempt it.

 

[Tahoe61]

No intervention I tried was successful, unfortunately. Keeping it stable and not manipulating in any way is your best bet.

 

[SaltLife77]

Update:

The clam is hanging in there. Appears to be eating, reactive to stimuli like normal. The hinge is not completely apart, just slightly. So far, it has only been misaligned once. I adjusted it and it hasn't misaligned since. I also put some stabilizing rocks around it, so that it can still open but doesn't fall over or anything.

I DID find a video on how to make a prosthetic hinge, and I have the tools to do it; however, I am not going to go that route unless I think it is absolutely necessary. The clam (Bosley) seems to be happy and chilling. I work from home so I can check on it fairly routinely. He has growth on the shell too, seems to be doing well. Fingers crossed!