Starfish problem need help.

[razzmatazz]

Hi I have a Orange Linka Starfish, he has beed doing well. This afternoon I notice that one of his legs has been torne off. It looks like someone took a knife and cut it clean off half way back.
What would do this. Any Ideas?

 

[dalbrecht]

They can reproduce that way. You might be on the way to 2 stars.

-Don

 

[razzmatazz]

but he look as if he is going to die. He's twisted and crawlling wierd, like it is in pain.

 

[crp]

How long have you had it? How did you acclimate it?

Carrie

 

[razzmatazz]

Several months. for like 20 hours

 

[74nautique]

Sounds like he's dieing, I had them fall apart and die. They don't like pH or salinity changes.

 

[razzmatazz]

salinity and PH has not changed. bummer Id think hed melt instead of be fat and drop a part of a leg.

 

[spoon25]

thats normal for starfish to lose parts i wouldnt worry about it unless it looks like its starting to melt...there very critical to salinity so i would keep a close on that usually little tanks evaporate causing salinity to go up,....

 

[razzmatazz]

This tank is a 150g with a 45g sump. It does evaporate 5 gallons a day. Topped off every morning.
175 pounds LR
Calcium 400
salinity 1.025
PH 8.6
Nitrate 0
Nitrite 0
Amonia 0
no detectable phosphates
temp 79
any thing else I should test for.

 

[spoon25]

8.6 is very high shoudl be 8.2
try lowering that first before you get other tests

 

[Spartan]

There's really not much you can do for it other than maintain good tank conditions. Either it will recover or it won't. Mine had a powerhead caused leg injury and survived it. Good luck

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

Time for "Idol", but this star sounds like a goner.

 

[Jamie2337]

Gary Majchrzak Time for "Idol", but this star sounds like a goner.

Who do you think is getting booted? I hope it is the creepy cowboy guy. Reminds me too much of my first husband! LOL.

 

[weaver5]

My daughter hopes it is that geeky young boy Kevin. I do not care as long as it is not Kelly

 

[dderue]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6963117#post6963117 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by spoon25
8.6 is very high shoudl be 8.2
try lowering that first before you get other tests

How would you suggest lowering the PH, My tank runs around the 8.6 also, always has????????

 

[spoon25]

im just sayin thats a little high i dont know much about how stars handle ph, but salt should 8.2, now they make ph down if you need, then when you get to desired level you can add a ph buffer to the tank, try checking the ph ealry in morning then late at night it changes throughout the day.... its higher at nighttime, lower in the morning....

 

[crp]

I'd also raise the temp a little to 80-82. What's your alkilinity? Calcium, alkilinity and ph are all tied together.

 

[spoon25]

what type of salt do you use?

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

Re: Starfish problem need help.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6961598#post6961598 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by razzmatazz
Hi I have a Orange Linka Starfish, he has beed doing well. This afternoon I notice that one of his legs has been torne off. It looks like someone took a knife and cut it clean off half way back.
What would do this. Any Ideas?

These types of stars are prone to starving in an aquarium over time and they are also sensitive to rapid fluctuations in salinity. (Orange "Linckia" aren't actually Linckia, but closely related.)
The clean cut type of wound you describe is unusual and there's no telling what might have caused it. Got any big crabs?
It's good to have a skimmer running just in case the star crawls in back of the rockwork to die- I've seen decomposing seastars cause an outbreak of cyanobacteria.

 

[razzmatazz]

I think something is eating the poor thing. Another leg was off last night under a piece of rock. When I tried to get it out something pulled it way from me, and it dissapiered. Pumps were off so I think I have a hideous crab in my tank. Yes hideous I have had nothing but bad luck with crabs. Darn hitch hikers. Going to be up all night with a red light trying to find the darn thing. Bet it is full and will not come out my luck. And it is a big rock on the bottem of the pile too. But of course it has to look like a rock right.