serpent star Help!
- Thread starter sunkool
- Start date
cl2ysta1
New member
Problem with my Green Serpent Starfish (The Headless Starfish)
I have had my serpent starfish for well over a year and he has doubled in size and has been such a joy to us. We had him in a 150 gallon tank full of
live rock and he would always get behind it and make other rocks fall...so about a month ago we started a small 55 gallon tank just to add him and a few
pieces of rock along with one male and one female clown. We tested the waters before adding the things to the new tank and made sure it was established. We put him in my sons room because he loves to watch him. He has been crawling all over the tank, and has been eating very well. On Saturday night when I went to bed I fed the clowns and I also fed him. When we woke up on Sunday Morning... his central disc had completely blown up... I could see everything inside his body the whole top is gone. He was still moving all about the tank. Today is Monday night and all the brown stuff that was inside him is now a white color but he is still very active and moving about the tank. I have noticed that his all attached 5 limbs are still trying to catch food but he has nowhere to put it. Could you please tell me what I should do.
<Nothing much "to do"... but hope that this animal will self-cure>
I immediately removed the clowns from the tank and added them to the 150 gallon tank so he is all alone. I read that they do not have brains so they do not experience pain......but I am experiencing enough pain for him. My son WILL NOT let me flush his as long as he is still moving around the tank.
<I agree... leave this animal be>
I just do not see how he is going to recover. Please send me any information that will be helpful. Thank you so much in your quick response.
Brandi Vickers
<Ophiuroids, brittlestars have remarkable "powers of regeneration"... Am hopeful yours will recover. Do your best to "leave it alone" (not add "medicines"), keep water quality stable... Bob Fenner>
I have had my serpent starfish for well over a year and he has doubled in size and has been such a joy to us. We had him in a 150 gallon tank full of
live rock and he would always get behind it and make other rocks fall...so about a month ago we started a small 55 gallon tank just to add him and a few
pieces of rock along with one male and one female clown. We tested the waters before adding the things to the new tank and made sure it was established. We put him in my sons room because he loves to watch him. He has been crawling all over the tank, and has been eating very well. On Saturday night when I went to bed I fed the clowns and I also fed him. When we woke up on Sunday Morning... his central disc had completely blown up... I could see everything inside his body the whole top is gone. He was still moving all about the tank. Today is Monday night and all the brown stuff that was inside him is now a white color but he is still very active and moving about the tank. I have noticed that his all attached 5 limbs are still trying to catch food but he has nowhere to put it. Could you please tell me what I should do.
<Nothing much "to do"... but hope that this animal will self-cure>
I immediately removed the clowns from the tank and added them to the 150 gallon tank so he is all alone. I read that they do not have brains so they do not experience pain......but I am experiencing enough pain for him. My son WILL NOT let me flush his as long as he is still moving around the tank.
<I agree... leave this animal be>
I just do not see how he is going to recover. Please send me any information that will be helpful. Thank you so much in your quick response.
Brandi Vickers
<Ophiuroids, brittlestars have remarkable "powers of regeneration"... Am hopeful yours will recover. Do your best to "leave it alone" (not add "medicines"), keep water quality stable... Bob Fenner>
cl2ysta1
New member
Can this Green Brittlestar Recover? (11/17/04)
This is a picture of our eaten brittle star. <Yuck!> We sent the culprit (cream angel) back to the shop He's still moving but we haven't seen him eating anything. Will he recover? Yours hopefully, Kevin Gregory. <So sorry to say so, but I am highly pessimistic. From what I see, the entire top half of the central disk is missing. The condition of its exposed internal organs can't be good, and its vitals are now vulnerable to infection and to chewing by various opportunists (e.g. hermits). I'd say the only (slim) chance is to remove to a QT with stable, optimum water conditions and probably antibiotics to prevent infection. Let us know if you succeed. Steve Allen.>
This is a picture of our eaten brittle star. <Yuck!> We sent the culprit (cream angel) back to the shop He's still moving but we haven't seen him eating anything. Will he recover? Yours hopefully, Kevin Gregory. <So sorry to say so, but I am highly pessimistic. From what I see, the entire top half of the central disk is missing. The condition of its exposed internal organs can't be good, and its vitals are now vulnerable to infection and to chewing by various opportunists (e.g. hermits). I'd say the only (slim) chance is to remove to a QT with stable, optimum water conditions and probably antibiotics to prevent infection. Let us know if you succeed. Steve Allen.>
cl2ysta1
New member
ahh it didnt post any comments
basically it seems what is showing are his insides. Something ate the top of him off or he got an infection etc. they dont have brains and cant feel pain. He is more than likely not going to make it. I would suggest to keep an eye on him and make sure you find him so he doesnt rot in your tank. sorry
basically it seems what is showing are his insides. Something ate the top of him off or he got an infection etc. they dont have brains and cant feel pain. He is more than likely not going to make it. I would suggest to keep an eye on him and make sure you find him so he doesnt rot in your tank. sorry
Similar threads
