Please help. Sea Star with big hole in the center. Picture?!?!?

[MarineGirl411]

I just noticed this today. My sea star has a huge hole in the center of his body. I have no idea how this happened. These are the fish that are in there with him

Bartletts Anthias
1 Black Clownfish,
1 Hi-Finned banded goby
Pistol Shrimp paired with goby-tiny
1 Cleaner Shrimp
1 Royal Gramma

Do you think the cleaner shrimp could have done this? Can you please help? Any ideas? Here are some pictures.

Please help.

 

[Guygettnby]

my serpent starfish had the same thing happen to it about 2 months ago.... i couldnt figure out how in the world it happened and why. but needless to say 2 months later it is doing fine and has fully repaired itself from it.

i would check your water and make sure it is all good. i personally did a partial water change after that happened to mine and i noticed my ph was a bit high. but everything else was right on point.

 

[MarineGirl411]

Some are saying that it most likely starved. I will try that as well. I just did a water change recently. This is so frustrating. I feel so bad for it. I am glad yours healed itself. Did you ask around as to what happened?

 

[wrasseguy2]

i had a star like that before that did the same thing...i also had a linkia that did the same thing before had it for a year..i am pretty sure both starved...after that i said no more stars like that i have had a couple serpent stars for 3 years now...never had a problem with them..sorry to hear about that!!

 

[MarineGirl411]

I feel awful. I will never buy one. =( This makes me so sad. I'm having some lousy luck lately. I wish I could do something for him. Can you supplement their diet with anything? I know most say no. On the LA website it states this (a mature tank with algae and is generally fairly self-sufficient in the aquarium, finding enough micro-organisms and detritus to scavenge if live rock is present. It is diurnal.)

=( That is very sad. They shouldn't sell them if they just pass away like this. I thought my tank was mature enough and that I had enough LR, algae, fed Nori, Cyclops, Mysis, Shrimp, etc. I've heard of others that feed them recipes like that.

 

[Midus]

Something similar is happening to my Brittle Star. Its a bit hard to tell from the picture, but if there is white outlining the wound, then its the same. From what I've researched its called Necrosis. Occurs when there is a shift in Water Parameters. Most don't survive it seems. Well I hope yours and mines get better.

 

[MarineGirl411]

What kind of shift in water parameters? SG? I hope yours gets better too.