HELP! Is my clam going to die???

[Reefer420]

First let me give some background on the clam...

Bought a few months ago from slamjama- has been doing great since that time. Great coloration- no gapping - new shell growth...

It was tenuously attached to the end of an oyster shell- the shell would basically hang off the clam if you picked it up.

My clam fell off its rock the other day- I noticed it in the morning and placed it back on its perch, oyster shell still attached. The clam has looked fine since then- in fact I was just thinking to myself earlier tonight how great it was looking.

But then I noticed...the oyster shell has ripped off! Not only has the shell ripped off- a large, nasty looking chunk of white muscle has come off with it!!! The clam is no longer attached to anything- but is still open wide, and as I said before looks great.

Does my clam have any hope? Will is simply die- or will it regrow that muscle?

I know that having an attached clam is better since there is less chance of an infection in its open end- but what about this? Any help is appreciated!!!

 

[nanoreefer22]

Don't worry about it. My clam did this on numerous occasions since I've had it. It's still going strong and growing . It should reattach sooner than later.

 

[noodleman]

did the muscle rip off or just the treads it makes to hold on to the shell? take a pic

 

[nanoreefer22]

* Assumed muscle was just the threads *

 

[Reefer420]

Its a pretty large chunck of muscle...I'll try to get a pic, hold on a few...

 

[Reefer420]

OK- Here is pic one. The thing is about 2" L...

 

[Reefer420]

Here is pic 2...

 

[noodleman]

wow thats one big piece of muscle, that pretty bad. Read that clams hardly make it if their muscle is damaged. I guess the only thing you can do is give it TLC and keep a eye on it IMO.

 

[Reefer420]

bwah! thats not good news...

I am amazed at how large the thing is too...btw, I know that if (or when? in this case) a clam kicks the bucket it goes pretty fast. Should I be worred about it polluting my tank if it dies during the day and I get home at night? I figure this muscle will be a nice feast for my hermits...maybe I won't feed the tank tomorrow.

 

[masterswimmer]

That is a big piece of muscle. I'd defer to the master of clams.........house, where are you?

master, of other things!

 

[nanoreefer22]

Sorry to see that. Thats definately not what my clam lets go. It just lets threads go. Best of luck with the clam.

 

[House of Laughter]

420 - that's not good - but I have seen funnier things happen - I bought a squamosa off a guy and it arrived in an empty bag - the water ran out after the shell punctured it. It was open within an hour ad has been ahppy ever since - does that mean I'll have it for 10 yrs, I have no idea.

if that large a piece of flesh came off, I'd be more inclined to be worried about what caused it rather than if it were going to live - take alot of muscle to rip a clam off it's perch.

I bet the little guy surprises you, though. Keep an eye on it every day.

House

 

[Reefer420]

I am sure that there is nothing in the tank strong enough to do that...but it does have a tendency to move on its own. It had a pretty secure place on the rock, but it wasn't attached to it, just the oyster shell it came on.

I think what must have happened is that it closed really fast, knocked itself off the perch, and twisted the muscle where the oyster shell was. Must have taked a couple of days to fully fall off.

The clam looks fine though- I'll do an update if it pulls through more than a week or two!!
Thanks for the help!

 

[Reefer420]

btw- any suggestions on its care? Extra phyto? Anything?

 

[House of Laughter]

keep the predastors away if it's vulnerable - crabs pyramid snails etc

feeding it couldn't hurt once in awhile to help it recover.

Good luck -