Red Starfish is in TROUBLE
- Thread starter tockeyj
- Start date
musty baby
New member
If it's healthy it should be ok, provided it doesn't get attacked again. As for options, isn't your only option really to wait it out and see? 
What attacked it, and is it separated from the starfish now?
What attacked it, and is it separated from the starfish now?
My starfish had part of it's leg bitten off or whatever about a month ago. He was starting to heal from what I saw. Then today his leg was almost completely bitten off. Soon after I got home, one of my three camel shrimp started picking at his leg, and he wouldn't stop. So I decided to use my fish net and keep him suspeded in it until I can get some further guidance. The shrimp haven't messed with him after I put him in the net. I really hope it can heal and get better.
musty baby
New member
Well no, it's not going to be ok if you don't get it away from whatever is biting its legs off.
Speaking of...
Speaking of...
ophiuroid
Premium Member
It is really VERY important that you provide SPECIFIC tank parameters.
It is unlikely, IMO, that this star is being attacked and is otherwise healthy.
The slow disintegration of the arms, or just arms "falling off" is characteristic of several issues.
If the star is less than about a month old, it is characteristic of acclimation shock.
If you have had major water quality fluctuations recently, it is characteristic of osmotic shock.
If the star has been in the tank 6 months to perhaps a year, it is starvation. This star does not typically take to spot feeding, and does not eat "algae or detritus" or scavenge. It needs live rock, and huge amounts of it.
In any of these cases, shrimp and hermits, etc will be attracted to the star as they smell it is dying.
This star, though small, needs a very large mature reef system to stand a chance of surviving. On the order of a 100g with at least 125lbs of LR minimum. It is at least as, if not more difficult to keep than many Linckia. The small size does not make it suitable for smaller systems.
The success rate with Fromia stars is very very poor in captivity. Please provide tank parameters so that we can try and provide the best care. DO NOT move it to another system. Isolating within the same system is good, but I suspect it is too late.
Please also provide tank inhabitants. But I would say it is FAR more likely and common that this star is dying. That is, unfortunately, the norm for most.
It is unlikely, IMO, that this star is being attacked and is otherwise healthy.
The slow disintegration of the arms, or just arms "falling off" is characteristic of several issues.
If the star is less than about a month old, it is characteristic of acclimation shock.
If you have had major water quality fluctuations recently, it is characteristic of osmotic shock.
If the star has been in the tank 6 months to perhaps a year, it is starvation. This star does not typically take to spot feeding, and does not eat "algae or detritus" or scavenge. It needs live rock, and huge amounts of it.
In any of these cases, shrimp and hermits, etc will be attracted to the star as they smell it is dying.
This star, though small, needs a very large mature reef system to stand a chance of surviving. On the order of a 100g with at least 125lbs of LR minimum. It is at least as, if not more difficult to keep than many Linckia. The small size does not make it suitable for smaller systems.
The success rate with Fromia stars is very very poor in captivity. Please provide tank parameters so that we can try and provide the best care. DO NOT move it to another system. Isolating within the same system is good, but I suspect it is too late.
Please also provide tank inhabitants. But I would say it is FAR more likely and common that this star is dying. That is, unfortunately, the norm for most.
I appreciate your quick replies. I have him suspended in a fish net that is suspended above the rock so the shrimp and crabs can't get to him. There are some faded spots on his body. Here are my tank specs:
30 gallon with with skimmer and bio-wheel filter without the wheel, used only for carbon filtration.
pH: 8.2
temp: 78-80
sg: 1.024
ammonia: 0.00
nitrite: 0.00
nitrate: 0.00
Ca: 450
Tank inhabitants are as follows: 3 blue/green chromis, a six-spot sleeper goby, 2 clownfish, 3 camel shrimp, a red leg hermit, a blue leg hermit, a feather duster and some snails, and of course my starfish.
30 gallon with with skimmer and bio-wheel filter without the wheel, used only for carbon filtration.
pH: 8.2
temp: 78-80
sg: 1.024
ammonia: 0.00
nitrite: 0.00
nitrate: 0.00
Ca: 450
Tank inhabitants are as follows: 3 blue/green chromis, a six-spot sleeper goby, 2 clownfish, 3 camel shrimp, a red leg hermit, a blue leg hermit, a feather duster and some snails, and of course my starfish.
ophiuroid
Premium Member
My personal guess would actually be starvation considering the time frame you've had it. THis is consistent with the arm disintegrating. It is possible you have a hitch hiker that is causing trouble as well...but realistically many of these stars in smaller tanks meet their fate at about this time.
Basically...if it continues to disintegrate, it was most likely starvation, IMO. If it stops and regrows, it was predation. But at this time if the star is dying, then yes, hermits, shrimp etc will all be attracted to it to pick at it. But for sure it can not stay in the net long, as it has no access to the food it needs on the LR.
Basically...if it continues to disintegrate, it was most likely starvation, IMO. If it stops and regrows, it was predation. But at this time if the star is dying, then yes, hermits, shrimp etc will all be attracted to it to pick at it. But for sure it can not stay in the net long, as it has no access to the food it needs on the LR.
ophiuroid
Premium Member
Well, it is a tough call. The hermits and crabs are only doing what is instinctive when they encounter a stressed animal. I would, if possible, get a critter carrier or some little container to put in the tank, with holes for flow, and at least put some live rock rubble in there.
Has the disintegration continued?
Has the disintegration continued?
