HELP!!..Ripping Starfish

[mcardenas]

For the last couple of days my starfish has been acting weird. It appears to be ripping its self up. The tips appear to be ripping in half.

 

[Rob6311]

Well I know starfish can regenerate but I've never heard of them ripping in half but hey I haven't heard everything so it might be possible, if no one who knows anything about it responds then just google if it's possible and then hope that's what's happening

 

[m0nkie]

I've seen a few posts of starfish getting injured and the infection starts to decay the leg. pretty much over for the starfish. good luck with yours!

 

[acabgd]

The photos are not that great, but I don't see any "ripping"?

 

[ca1ore]

These kind of starfish are very tricky to keep long term. They either succumb to shipping stress/damage or they starve. Either way, in the process of dying they can appear to be ripping apart as they disintigrate.

 

[Daniel62]

dying

 

[kw22]

these kind of starfish are very tricky to keep long term. They either succumb to shipping stress/damage or they starve. Either way, in the process of dying they can appear to be ripping apart as they disintigrate.

+1

 

[Sk8r]

These starfish are for very large tanks with mature rockwork. They generally starve in less than that.

 

[snorvich]

These kind of starfish are very tricky to keep long term. They either succumb to shipping stress/damage or they starve. Either way, in the process of dying they can appear to be ripping apart as they disintigrate.

+2 Unless you have a very large mature tank, the odds of success with this animal are very low.

 

[ca1ore]

+2 Unless you have a very large mature tank, the odds of success with this animal are very low.

Have you ever been able to successfully keep one? I've not tried in many years, but now that I have a mature 265, and my LFS got some in that look good, I'm debating whether to try one (figure they've got a better chance with me than most who'd buy them).

 

[qasim99]

Ive seen this happen in a friends tank as well. Apparently the starfish "sheds" itself, if it cannot find enough sustenance in the tank. I would rather take it out and find it a new home in a well established tank if it keeps on shedding.

 

[whiteshark]

If this is a linkia star, I believe they eat asterina stars. I had a linkia in my old 90 for several years. That tank was packed full of asterinas looking back. At the time I didn't know why my linkia survived for so long while others couldn't keep one.

That said, I can't say the asterinas were the reason it did so well.

 

[ca1ore]

If this is a linkia star, I believe they eat asterina stars.

That would be news to me. I always thought they were film algae feeders.

 

[whiteshark]

I believe there was a thread about it. The OP actually had pictures of a linkia eating an asterina. Several other posters experienced the same thing.

Here ya go:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1745175

 

[ca1ore]

I believe there was a thread about it. The OP actually had pictures of a linkia eating an asterina. Several other posters experienced the same thing.

Here ya go:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1745175

How about that! Maybe that's why I never was able to keep them alive :lol: I don't recall that thread so thanks for posting it. Amazing .....

 

[mcardenas]

Well I've had this starfish for about 5 months and it was doing very well until recently. I just noticed the tips are healing and no longer ripping, but he is still making weird shapes.