Sandsifting Star whats wrong with it?

[mosssw]

Any help with telling me what might be wrong with him would be appreciated. I have had him for 7 months and he has been healthy until 3 days ago. In addition to what you see the very tip of one of his arms seems to be slightly shrivled.
Thank you
Shelley

 

[scottallert]

most likely starving what size is your tank?
whats your ph at ?

 

[mosssw]

90 gallon and PH is 8.2....he has been fine all this time though?

 

[Phyxius]

Usually when they start losing their arms its a sign they are starving. They work good in your tank for awhile but eventually will strip the sand bed of most life. Your best bet will be to supplement feed it if possible or see if a LFS will take it in trade.

 

[macronut]

Sorry about your star. If you haven't added any new fish as trigger, angel or large wrasse then I'd say he might be starving. They eat alot of critters out of the sand and can deplete a sandbed quickly. I could be wrong and hope I am. As an alternative you might try feeding a small portion of popcorn shrimp. Purchase uncooked and raw shrimp. I'm not sure if he will eat it or not, but it is worth a try. I would lay the food near a good leg and see if the smell of the shrimp entices a feeding response. Watch to see if it eats. I use to hand feed this to my green brittle star to keep him happy. I also do this with my red serpent star every couple days.

I don't know if this will work, but it is worth a try.

Good luck!

 

[mosssw]

Mike what would I use supplement feed? I am also in the Raleigh area.
Shelley

 

[Phyxius]

mosssw
I have one in mine still I need to get out but I do feed it by hand also. I will feed the tank and then put some mysis shrimp in the sand right under the starfish. It stays on top of this mysis till its pretty much gone and its seems to work well. I do have lots of life left in my sand bed or it would have been traded in awhile ago.....

If you have noticed a lack of life in the sand its most likely eaten it all and you should see about trading it in if it wont eat Mysis, raw shrimp or the like in the next few days...