Red spots on blue linckia

[nuttyd]

Just noticed my blue starfish has little red dots over its legs that move a little. Think they might be flatworms. What should be done if anything?

 

[jraker]

A picture would be helpful.

 

[nuttyd]

Not going to be able to take a picture that will help. Wont be clear enough. I am pretty sure they are flat worms. Just asking what treatment should be done if any.

 

[nuttyd]

Anyone? Does no one know how to treat a starfish for parasites?

 

[nuttyd]

Really no one has any advice for treating starfish?

 

[Ron Reefman]

If they are flat worms you should be able to just pick them off the star. It's very unlikely they are doing any harm to the star. In fact they are probably cleaning it. And if they are on the star, it's VERY likely you have more on your soft corals (look closely at mushrooms, ricordia and leathers.

If your star really is a Linckia, be careful and gentle with it. And best if you can not pull it out of the water. Some stars get air trapped inside and then can't get it out and die.

 

[nuttyd]

Ok thank you. Might just let it go then and hope that the Lemon Meringue Wrasse takes care of them eventually.

 

[nuttyd]

Ok, so few months later and the wrasse is good for nothing. Still have the flat worms on the starfish and have noticed them on the yuma mushroom. Whats the best way to get rid of these?

 

[Ron Reefman]

For starters you want to get as many out as you can because using Flatworm Exit kills them in the tank and they release a toxin in the tank.

I put a filter sock in the sump. Then took a small section of hard plastic tubing (pex from Lowes works) and a length of clear hose attached at one end. The hard pipe goes in the tank to be a vacuum and the other end goes in the filter sock to catch the worms. Start a siphon and vacuum away. Get as many as you can. Maybe even do it every day for several days before you use Flatworm Exit to cut the population as much as possible. They love to hide on mushrooms and in zoas.

If your population isn't too big, it's possible the wrasse was eating his share, but they breed faster than he eats. If you cut down the population by siphon vacuuming them out, the wrasse may just finish the job.

Good luck.

 

[nuttyd]

Ok. Will trying removing as many as i can over the next week. I am assuming i can just shake the starfish a little and they will come off of it? (it is a blue linkia and I've had for over a year so don't want to jeopardize injuring it) Would the flatworms be hurting the clam I have, its been a bit unhappy the last couple weeks.

 

[Ron Reefman]

The flatworms I had didn't harm anything other than by covering mushrooms and zoas so they don't get the light. I think there are other kinds of flatworms that do cause harm.

I'd take a good size container that the linkia will fit in and pick the flat worms off so they don't get loose in the tank.

If they are on the mantle of the clam, I'd guess they could irritate the clam but they don't really hurt it or injure it.