Serpent Star Dismembered - Attacked??

[ToonPack]

I have had my serpent star since I set up my tank (11 months ago) and he's always been reclusive but had grown pretty large.

However, early this week he came out in the daytime and I noticed one of his legs was half missing, I didn't really think a lot of it and assummed he'd had an accident of some sort.

Well today he's out again and he's only got half of one leg and stumps for three others and the fifth one one looks like it's been ripped out at the socket. I thought he was dead but he is still alive.

Should I euthanise him??? (if so how???) and what could have caused so much dammage.

My tank inmates are Cleaner Shrimp x 2, a Moorish Idol, a P/Blue Tang (psycho fish), Pair Clowns and a Pair of firefish.

The cleanup crew is Turbo's (lots of them and breeding like rabbits) red-leg hermits and a Flame Lobster (pretty big now) - could it be him/her ????

Mods - If this is posted in the wrong forum please feel free to move the thread

 

[RicksReefs]

my money would be on the lobster or not enough food.

 

[graveyardworm]

I second the lobster. Get it out and start feeding the serpent directly. Chances are good it'll recover.

 

[ToonPack]

Thanks for the comments, Do you think I should put the starfish in my sump - has a sandbed in there and a couple of pieces of live rock and LOTS of big featherdusters, it'll be permanently dark for him and easier for me to direct feed without the fish muscling in on him ??????

 

[graveyardworm]

I would move one or the other to the sump, probably would be best to move the serpent, so it can eat without competition. Would this become a permanent home for him?

 

[ToonPack]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6923976#post6923976 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by graveyardworm
I would move one or the other to the sump, probably would be best to move the serpent, so it can eat without competition. Would this become a permanent home for him?

Well it will certainly be his home until hopefully he's recovered, maybe longer. I don't think I'd be able to get at the lobster he NEVER leaves the rocks and all you ever see is a claw or occassionally his face way under the rocks if you surprise him with a torch at night

I've just moved the star in there and noticed the end of one of his legs just like flaking off, I'm wondering if he's starving. I have had my tank on a diet because of a bad hair algae outbreak.

I've put him in the sump on top of an open cockle, so hopefully he can have a feast

 

[Javeo]

I agree, he should recover prett fast. The entire top of my brittle stars disk got removed somehow, its guts were visible, but with regular feeding it was all back to normal in 2 weeks.