HELP: Splitting starfish???

[jpl3k]

I just got home from the weekend in my g/f's house in Pa, and found my sand-shifter starfish splitting one of its legs down the center. I'm a little worried, but not sure if I should be. I've had him for about 2 weeks, so I'm not particularly knowledgeable about him.

If you enhance the image you may get a better shot??
(Sorry for the picture quality, my camera doesn't take great pics through the glass for some reason.)

I'm also leaving for a short (6-7day) vacation to Florida on Monday morning, and no one in my house knows anything about sw reefs. I can only pray this guy will be okay while I'm gone.

 

[DJ88©]

ummm when I saw stars doing something like this it generally wasn't a good thing. When a sand sifting star starts to "deteriorate" it is usually on it's way out due to poor water quality(alk pH etc), being acclimated too fast, or starvation. Or it just could have been on it's way out when it was purchased.

Personally I'd remove it before it can really start to break down and foul the tank.

but that is my .02

Sand sifting stars need a large deep well stocked sand bed to stay alive as well as with all stars, stable tank parameters and good water quality. Nearly all are vulnerable to being acclimated too quickly. just a few tidbits. hth

 

[CaveManNOhio]

I would take it out as well. I don't think a leg splitting down the middle can be a good thing at all.

 

[The steven liu]

Me three, I think the star is probably on its way out. They don't really reproduce that way in captivity.

 

[jpl3k]

I was afraid of that, but I'd hate to just "off it".. tomorrow is my last day here, and I don't want it to mess up the tank, either. I guess I could try taking it back to the store and seeing if they will 'take care of it'. They may have a sick tank to stick it in and give it a chance. ??
My g/f was like "its just a couple bucks, get it.."
*Sigh.. I don't know why I got this guy two weeks before I was going on vacation.. that was a newbie mistake!
I'll try to let you know what happens before I go.
-Jonathan

 

[jpl3k]

Well, I awoke to a continuation of what started yesterday, my starfish isn't looking well. He seems to be deteriorating slowly.

I figured by the time I get him all the way out to the LFS with the heat changes between the winter weather and whatnot, his odds of surviving probably aren't too high. The LFS would probably just flush him anyway.
What is the best way for this poor guy to go? Is there a civilized way of 'assisted killing' of invertebrates?
Thanks again,
Jonathan

 

[capncapo]

Put it in a bowl of tank water and put the bowl in the freezer.

Definitely looks like it's starving to death.

 

[jpl3k]

Uhg.. starving!? I feel terrible about this. What a stupid mistake.. I should have researched more first, and known better than to take the word of a store employee.
Freezing him sounds like the best idea I can think of. I'll take him downstairs now.
After he's gone, I guess flush him.. ?
-Jonathan

 

[clord]

You could bring to the LFS and hope they have one of those shrimp that eat startfish.

 

[DJ88©]

I don't know that it is a result of starvation.

Usually when I saw them looking like that it would be due to shipping methods, incorrect acclimation or water parameters.

Take a look at your tanks alkalinity and pH. If they are wonky you can have all kinds of problems with invertebrates.

 

[SumoBlenny]

What is the temperature in your aquarium? Echinoderms are very sensitive to high water temperatures and temperature swings. Their immune system ceases to function above various temperatures depending on the species. This makes them susceptible to bacterial infections such as vibrio. I have had good success treating arm rot in isolation at room temperature adding tetracycline, chloramphenicol or maracyn. As far as starvation goes, starfish can go months without food (but they aren't too happy about it). Alkalinity, PH and salinity can also predispose them to these infections.

 

[mcox33]

I would try a dip and quarantine until you get home from vacation

 

[AJ69]

Put it in a blender with scallops,shrimps,sea weed and garlic.Check you water param(alk/ph).

 

[jpl3k]

Thanks, all.
I have just received from vacation moments ago, and though my tank is stable, my starfish is now long-gone. I had run out of options before I left, so I took one of the member's first solutions (since I had few options) and put him on ice (litterally and figuratively).
I made a horrible mistake in purchasing him without first reading up on the poor guy. I strongly regret that now. I'm sure this thread will help others sometwhere along the way, and I thank you all for your comments and suggestions.
-Jonathan

 

[The steven liu]

Good luck on your next purchase, starfish or not. Thanks for sharing.