A sad clam story that may turned OK

[jim norris]

Maybe this story will turn out OK. The other day I remove my oldest clam (derasa) for his weekly inspection. I DROPPED him! He fell five feet right on to the tile floor. He schatter in about five pieces. Now this clam is about 8 inches plus and I have had him many years. He is my first clam and he was about one inch when I got him. My heart fell to my feet. I picked him up and he was a mess. Inners hanging out of a 3 by 3 piece of shell that broke off. The other pieces I found also. I took him over to the sink lay him on a towel and said to myself you are not going to die! I grab three tubes of super gel and GLUE him back together after putting his inners all in place. I place him back into the tank. After two days he was not opening I thought omy god I have glue him shut! On the third day he opened and after 8 days he is almost totally opened. I picked him up the other day and the shell was still together. Now his shell has an interesting pattern. And I hope he is going to be ok. I will update you all as he goes if interested.
Jim

[MiNdErAsR]

Hi Jim,
What a story! I feel for you man. If I could suggest reinforcing the glued joints with something. Perhaps Ron, Eric or Randy could suggest some type of mortar that would be "reef-safe"? It's my experience that eventually super glue will loosen it's grip, and with the clam being all muscle it could be a problem down the road.

I hope your clam survives this ordeal.

[hreef]

Jim, I could hardly read this. I hope that he will be ok. I hope you will be ok. If he opened up, I think he may be well on his way in healing. Holly

[ClamLover]

Hi Jim,

I know how it feels like this. But am very glad to hear the good news.

Just a thought <hope it's relevant and helps>, maybe for now you just want to leave him untouched, but visually inspect him often everyday in case of attack from other critters nearby.

Let's hope he heals quick, give him as much rest possible and avoid causing him to use his energy unnecessarily eg. retracting his mantle unnecessarily when someone is nearby watching him.

[jim norris]

Clamlover,
Good advise! I have put him in my 55 hex where there is only a kole tang and three Big clams. I did pick him up this am and all is still intacted. I am watching the glued areas to make sure they are holding and maybe healing!!!! I have some pictures I will post tonight.
Jim

[fishymissy]

I hope your clam will be alright!

[SueT]

Jim, I too could hardly read this. I so remember this clam from my visit to your house. I hope that he will be ok and the glue will hold. When hreef called me about this I immediately thought of the turtles they show on TV with shells that have been cracked or worse by boat propellers and wondered if something like that could help mend this big clam. I hope you are doing ok too. I know it is very stressful to you too. It's like the day my green with purple rim capricornis was dropped and all I could do was watch it fall. Time seemed to slow to nothing.

Please keep us updated and Good Luck.

my 180 ecosystem sps tank:
http://berlinmethod.com/suet/
my 120 ecosystem sps/clam tank:
http://suetruett.homestead.com/home.html
www.marshreef.org/members

[toptank]

Jim, remembering you told this story to me on the phone the other night and I felt so bad. I am glad that he is doing ok, keep us posted.

Barry

[OJsreef]

Jim
Sorry to hear about what happend. I feel for ya man, as just the other day I was cleaning the glass and my magnet broke loose and landed on my Derasa chipping off a good chunk of shell. Not a good feeling I know:eek: .

Hope all turn out well for you.
Thanks:Oliver

[Renae]

Jim,
Wow that is heart wrenching...My thought was like Sue's I thought of the Turtles and I know they often use Fiberglass to reinforce their shells after damage...
Good Luck,
Renae

[jim norris]

Actually I work at a car repair shop. I can get fiber glass. The thought is with me on this! As of right now the big guy is doing GREAT! I will update with photos tonight.
Jim

[OJsreef]

Jim
Glad to hear he's doing so well. Can't wait to see those pics!
Thanks:OJsreef:)

[mastaJ]

WOW...:sad1:

[Brad A.]

I was reading about a bristleworm which will bore a hole in clams and feed on them..Sprung..Delbeek vol 1 (I believe). Anyhow, apparently if you remove the worm the clam can form a new solid matrix over the hole.

Maybe the shells can be repaired by the clam?? I have no experience in this area...I just read about it..thats all.
Good Luck
Brad
I can get the reference if you want it..

[jim norris]

Brad,
Thank you I have his books. That is what I hoping for! So far it has been about 2 weeks and he is doing good! Last night I took him out and super feed him. (I think he ate almost a 30 oz bottle of DTs). Pictures coming.
Jim

[Turtlesteve]

The clam will repair it's shell by adding new growth on the inside to cover the cracks. I've found shells at the beach before that have been severely broken and have healed by themselves. Good luck.

[jim norris]

Steve,
Good information. Thanks!

[jim norris]

Here are a couple of pictures just taken. So far so good.

[jim norris]

two

[LisaP]

Hi Jim,

Oh my! What a story :eek2:. I'm really glad to hear that your clam is doing so well after such a fall. Incredible!

You said that you were taking him out to give him his weekly inspection. Why do you do that? I have 3 clams and have never even tried to move them let alone take them out of my tank. Should I be checking mine regularly too??

Regards

Lisa

[jim norris]

Hello Lisa,
The clams that are attached to big pieces of LR I just check out in the tanks. My clams that are not attached I remove from the water to inspect for snails and worms and to clean them of any algae the tangs didn't eat. Cleaning algae off the shell is real important mostly on babies 2 inches and under.
Jim

[jim norris]

Good morning everybody!
Just taken pictures of SCAR ( new nickname).

[jim norris]

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[LisaP]

Jim,

Ahh got it! Phew, mine are all much bigger than 2" and attached to rocks. I'll just continue to admire them from my armchair I think ;)

BTW Scar.... great name, I hope that he continues to do well :D.

Regards

Lisa

[hreef]

Jim, you did a great job to put this clam back in together. I am so happy the clam is alright, you too! With your care he will be just fine. Hope to see you in a few weeks. Holly

[jim norris]

Thanks Holly,
Looking forward to seeing you too!
Jim

[jim norris]

More pictures (update) coming tomorrow. Scar is still doing OK!
Jim

[saltcreeper]

Glad to see SCAR opening up. It is so cool your were able to put him back together.:)

[Renae]

Jim,
WOW he is looking great! Thanks for posting the pics I have been following you and Scar's story so it's nice to have an idea how beautiful this clam is scars and all....

Just remind scar...Chick clams dig scars!
Renae:D

[Laura D]

Well, that's just another reason to always have super glue on hand. I can't think of how many times I've needed a tube and been out.

[jim norris]

It is now 7:30 pm in Austin, Texas Scar just went to the sink for inspection (I used all four hands) no WORMS or snails!! These first three pictures are of Scar toweling off. And the next three is of him out of the hospital tank and with his bubbies. Notice on the upper shell where I there is a piece missing the new growth!!!
Jim

[jim norris]

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[jim norris]

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[jim norris]

Check these last three pictures out just taken. Scar is now back in a bigger clam tank!!!

[jim norris]

Scar from above and close up. Pictures just taken today.
Jim

[jim norris]

1

[toptank]

Scar is looking good. :)

Why aren't you out mowing your yard :) hehehe

[jim norris]

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[jim norris]

Barry,
Hello! I can,t just got another dual 400 watt system that NEEDS to be set up! Thank goodness it is winter or I would be mowing the grass.

[toptank]

We have a terrible day in Paradise. It is 74 and nice ocean breeze :) LOL Going down to the pier to have brunch and enjoy this weather.

Do I need to bring warm cloths next week-end? No shorts I guess :(

Barry

Where are you putting the 400ers?

[jim norris]

Barry,
Right now it is 39 and warming up. But next week it could be 75.

[toptank]

Nice I see why I left Texas :) Och!

Scar looks great. That is a story to remember for the books.

Remember I want to borrow that type that Sam has.


I called the airline regarding bring home those clams as they said that would be fine as long it was a small ice chest type.

Well I guess I better run as Sherry is starting the car. :)

Barry

[jim norris]

Juat another update. Just took these two pictures of Scar. All the lights were out. I and thinking about moving him back under MHs this weekend.
Jim

[jim norris]

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[Doug]

Hi Jim,

That is incredible! I am going to start calling you "clam healer".

Great job!

Doug

[jim norris]

Sad story that is now got a happy ending. It was been a few weeks now that Scar had his crash landing. He has been glued together and has been in two other tanks. He is finally home in his 65 gallon on the bottom right hand side.
Jim

[Renae]

WOW Jim you have done great by that little "Scar" He was lucky to have found such a great home. I am so glad things have turned out to be great!
Renae

[Phillips]

Jim, You should have been a surgeon or a vet! You've taken Tridacna culture to a new level.
:smokin:

[toptank]

I saw Scar this week-end myself and he looks great. Jim, keep clue on hand at all time :)

Very nice meeting you and your setup look very nice.

Barry

[ReefDream]

This is probably the most amazing story I have ever read on ReefCentral! Just to think that someone would have the kind of hope that Jim did is amazing. Jim, your tank is beautiful too! Congratulations on the surgery too.

[jim norris]

Just an update Scar has been moved one last time he is now in my 120 gallon under 400 watt 6.5k sakis. He just suns himself all day long. His growth rate seems to have increase! I will follow up tomorrow with some great pictures of his shell.
Jim

[toptank]

Jim, it was good to meet Scar in person and ofcourse you also. :) He looked so well. Your scar and my blackie, they have been through some tough times.

Barry

[griss]

Jim,

Glad to hear that Scar is doing well.

Griss

[Nanook]

"Clam Healer"!!! Awesome story with a happy ending. Good job on the clam, thanks for the progress reports.


Nanook

[jim norris]

A quick picture of Scar just taken!

[jim norris]

Scar is really growing and seems to be getting darker.
Jim

[RooFish]

Glad to hear scar recovered well. Its amazing how well he came back after a near death experiance. This could be a whole new thing for people. I think most would have just assumed that he was dead, and left it, but you proved that they can heal very well and survive through a whole lot. GOOD JOB!

[jim norris]

The story of SCAR