Sand sifting star

[tompetty]

This is in a friends tank, does anyone know what could cause this?

 

[Allmost]

salinity changes.
PH changes.
lack of food > starvation.
being exposed to air for too long.

all different possibilities.

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

Very common unfortunately. They are one of those creatures that are best left in the wild. When kept in captivity, they quickly deplete the sand bed of microfauna then slowly starve to death. What you're seeing is the star falling apart as it dies.

 

[Calappidae]

Very common unfortunately. They are one of those creatures that are best left in the wild. When kept in captivity, they quickly deplete the sand bed of microfauna then slowly starve to death. What you're seeing is the star falling apart as it dies.

This,

These along with horseshoe crabs shouldn't be collected IMO.

 

[Allmost]

have had mine for 4 years now ...

if housed correctly, they can live long term.

just my opinion.

 

[katekate087]

Is there any way I can save it? Should I let it go? Should I move everything off my sand bed and feed the tank more?

 

[Allmost]

that one is gone, it wont come back.

how large is the tank ? whats the dept of the sand ?

starfish in general are very very sensitive to changes in water too though. so starvation isnt always the case,[sure is most of the times though]

 

[katekate087]

I have a 60 cube, sand depth varies but I have a bunch of random stuff sitting around in the sand so maybe it just isn't getting around well. I feel awful for it

 

[katekate087]

What if I amputated his bad legs and added more sand?

 

[Allmost]

the starfish posted above, is dead. sorry for the loss I dont think much can be done.

but a 60G [24x24 foot print] would not be a good place for sand sifting starfish. it will eat everything within a week. mine that lives longer, is in a 6 foot by 2 foot tank, with ALOT of bacteria activity.

 

[katekate087]

O geez I had no idea

 

[small_polyp]

I had one years ago in a DSB tank when DSB's were fashionable:crazy1:
It lived for years and years in a 75 gallon. I would imagine a shallow SB without lots of critters wouldnt sustain one long tho.

 

[jayjerk]

I have one for 2 years now and going strong. I also have a ton of sand

 

[Rybren]

I've had mine for ~5years. I only see it every few weeks. The last time I saw it, it was looking just like the one in the OP.

 

[DrPheel]

This also happened to me, my SSS was missing a tentcle and it was still going at it in the sand and on the widows , one night i caught a glimps of it in the moonlights and noticed less agitation in the tank . Well the little critter got jammed in a power head and lost one of its legs / hands or how you want to call it , Lived well ever since with only 3 legs and 2 amputated ones. I dont think they have the power to actualy cut the legs off but I think it may have does Like lizards and releaced it to escape !?

dont quote me on that lizard thing but that is what happened to me