Fromia Milleporella - Red Star - Splitting?

[mksalt]

I've had a Fromia Milleporella red sea star in my tank for maybe 6 months. About two weeks ago it disappeared. I figured he was a goner. Usually he can always be spotted every day on the glass or rock.

This morning he's on a tank wall. But only 3 legs out of 5 remain. The two missing legs are gone right at the center. Hard to see but it looks like there is exposed white flesh where the legs were attached.

Do these things split? If not, no idea how he got this way or where he's been for the last two weeks. Not sure of his survival chances, but what remains of him looks healthy.

I need to run to the airport now. Hope he's still around when I get back Wednesday.

Any thoughts or opinions on this appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[J. Montgomery]

I'm not sea star expert, but my guess is that its dying.

 

[AJSTITAN14]

Are you feeding the star or is it just left to graze in the tank? If it's just grazing then it's probably been slowly starving to death since you got it. Any time I see someone say that they have had a star in a small tank for 6 months and it's having problems it's 90% likely to be starving to death.

 

[greenbean36191]

Yep, the star is starving to death and at this point it's too late to save it. These stars do not split.

 

[mksalt]

This didn't look like starving. It looked like two legs ripped from body. I'll see if I can find it when I get home tonight.

 

[J. Montgomery]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15124829#post15124829 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mksalt
This didn't look like starving. It looked like two legs ripped from body.

Thats what they look like when they're starving