starfish question

munki · 07-26-2007, 08:37 PM

i have a red knob star (i know that it is a predator) at the end of one of its arms/legs its starting to fall apart a few of its knobs have fallen of and the star hasnt been moving around lately. its gone a few inches in a few directions, but thats it. is something eating it or is it sick. i feed it shimp twice a week. i have two types of fish in the tank. 1 coral beauty and 2 false perc clowns. the tank is 55 gallons.

nitrate, nitrite ammonia-0
ph-8.4
temp 78
i do add liquid calcium. could that make it sick?

-thank you

munki · 07-27-2007, 08:39 PM

somebody please help

bluespotjawfish · 07-27-2007, 09:04 PM

Wish I could help but I haven't had one of these before. IME with other types of starfish, a sudden CHANGE in pH can cause this type of problem. Check your salinity just to make sure its not off. Not sure what else to offer, sorry!

SoccerBum474 · 07-27-2007, 11:54 PM

your dwarf angel could be eating at it.. i have a lemonpeel that completely ate a brittle star.. i would put him in one of those baby nets that hang on the side of the tank and watch him from there so nothing can get to him

munki · 07-28-2007, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoccerBum474

your dwarf angel could be eating at it.. i have a lemonpeel that completely ate a brittle star.. i would put him in one of those baby nets that hang on the side of the tank and watch him from there so nothing can get to him

thanks. is that enough room and how long would i keep it there. will its thorns grow back? it looks terrible.

-thank you

BigAl07 · 07-28-2007, 08:06 AM

If it's healthy (other than the obvious) and your tank parameters are ideal then yes it should eventually grow it's parts back.

These guys are SUPER sensitive to any variations in tank chemistry. Get a water change under your belt just to make sure and do extensive testing.

Also are you testing your Calc? If you're NOT testing for it don't DOSE for it.

Good luck! If the star looks like it's merely "melting" you need to get it out of the tank. That's how they "demise" and a sign that something in your tank is off.

Allen

dobejazz · 07-28-2007, 02:34 PM

Do you have an auto top off? Stars are very sensitive to salinity changes.

munki · 07-28-2007, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigAl07

If it's healthy (other than the obvious) and your tank parameters are ideal then yes it should eventually grow it's parts back.

These guys are SUPER sensitive to any variations in tank chemistry. Get a water change under your belt just to make sure and do extensive testing.

Also are you testing your Calc? If you're NOT testing for it don't DOSE for it.

Good luck! If the star looks like it's merely "melting" you need to get it out of the tank. That's how they "demise" and a sign that something in your tank is off.

Allen

so you dont think its the coral beauty angel fish?

-thanks

munki · 07-28-2007, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dobejazz

Do you have an auto top off? Stars are very sensitive to salinity changes.

i dont have an auto top off system and i havnt had a sudden change in salinity but thanks for trying

munki · 07-28-2007, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigAl07

If it's healthy (other than the obvious) and your tank parameters are ideal then yes it should eventually grow it's parts back.

These guys are SUPER sensitive to any variations in tank chemistry. Get a water change under your belt just to make sure and do extensive testing.

Also are you testing your Calc? If you're NOT testing for it don't DOSE for it.

Good luck! If the star looks like it's merely "melting" you need to get it out of the tank. That's how they "demise" and a sign that something in your tank is off.

Allen

calcium 450

dobejazz · 07-28-2007, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by munki

i dont have an auto top off system and i havnt had a sudden change in salinity but thanks for trying

How often and how much do you top off? on my 95 I top off 2x's a day to keep it stable for my star

munki · 07-29-2007, 12:40 AM

i top off when it needs it. ive had the star for a while and i havnt changed anything. he used to get hard when i would have to move him( i never took him out of the water) but today he was soft and he didnt tighten up at all. i fed him a few day ago and he didnt really eat that. i tried again today but he didnt eat. i think he is still falling apart and he is in his own tank.

munki · 07-29-2007, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigAl07

If it's healthy (other than the obvious) and your tank parameters are ideal then yes it should eventually grow it's parts back.

These guys are SUPER sensitive to any variations in tank chemistry. Get a water change under your belt just to make sure and do extensive testing.

Also are you testing your Calc? If you're NOT testing for it don't DOSE for it.

Good luck! If the star looks like it's merely "melting" you need to get it out of the tank. That's how they "demise" and a sign that something in your tank is off.

Allen

will my star still melt even if nothing in the tank is off? how do i know if it is dead?
-thanks

munki · 07-29-2007, 09:48 PM

should i just kill it since i cant help it? how would i dispose of a starfish?
-thanks

AdvanceAquatics · 07-29-2007, 10:08 PM

is it an african red knob starfish...freddy had one-they need a big tank from what i understand his got 10"- Ate his soft corals,clams, another starfish, and other invertebrates.

I called him when I read this-his died 2-he said PH and Temp would be the first thing to hurt it, unless it got an infection of some kind.
temp:72-78ºF; sg 1.023-1.025; pH 8.1-8.4...
Sorry to heard about this?Just trying to help figure out the cause!

could it have an infection?can you QT him?

07-26-2007, 08:37 PM	#1 (permalink)
munki Plate Coral Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 707 View Gallery Karma Komment	starfish question i have a red knob star (i know that it is a predator) at the end of one of its arms/legs its starting to fall apart a few of its knobs have fallen of and the star hasnt been moving around lately. its gone a few inches in a few directions, but thats it. is something eating it or is it sick. i feed it shimp twice a week. i have two types of fish in the tank. 1 coral beauty and 2 false perc clowns. the tank is 55 gallons. nitrate, nitrite ammonia-0 ph-8.4 temp 78 i do add liquid calcium. could that make it sick? -thank you

07-27-2007, 08:39 PM	#2 (permalink)
munki Plate Coral Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 707 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: starfish question somebody please help

07-27-2007, 09:04 PM	#3 (permalink)
bluespotjawfish Tridacna maxima Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Utah Posts: 4,299 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: starfish question Wish I could help but I haven't had one of these before. IME with other types of starfish, a sudden CHANGE in pH can cause this type of problem. Check your salinity just to make sure its not off. Not sure what else to offer, sorry! __________________ Lorraine To BB and all Bluespots - Journey of the 2nd Year ...The 2nd Year - Photoshow Check out Mr. BJ and friends... Mr. BJ's Aquarium - PhotoShow

07-27-2007, 11:54 PM	#4 (permalink)
SoccerBum474 Cabbage Leather Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: San Luis Obispo, Ca Posts: 365 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: starfish question your dwarf angel could be eating at it.. i have a lemonpeel that completely ate a brittle star.. i would put him in one of those baby nets that hang on the side of the tank and watch him from there so nothing can get to him

07-28-2007, 08:06 AM	#6 (permalink)
BigAl07 Reef Addict (hopeless) Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Waynesville, North Carolina Posts: 12,875 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: starfish question If it's healthy (other than the obvious) and your tank parameters are ideal then yes it should eventually grow it's parts back. These guys are SUPER sensitive to any variations in tank chemistry. Get a water change under your belt just to make sure and do extensive testing. Also are you testing your Calc? If you're NOT testing for it don't DOSE for it. Good luck! If the star looks like it's merely "melting" you need to get it out of the tank. That's how they "demise" and a sign that something in your tank is off. Allen __________________ ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. >((((º> Nitrate (NO3) reduction is directly proportional to percentage of Water Change. Allen's home-made formula...(-NO3=WC%) This means if you change 50% of your total water volume (That's EVERYTHING) you'll get a net reduction of (NO3) somewhere around 50%. Ask me about how to increase your REEF budget without going without FOOD!! Allen's testimonial . . ."Let Me help you help YOURSELF" (Click Here) Big Al's 10g Julie's (BigAl's Gal) 6g NanoCube Now in STORAGE and Dry-Docked BigAl's Slow 90g Tank Chronicle Allens OFFICE 12g Nano-Reef

07-28-2007, 02:34 PM	#7 (permalink)
dobejazz Elegance coral Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,246 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: starfish question Do you have an auto top off? Stars are very sensitive to salinity changes. __________________ Kelli

07-29-2007, 12:40 AM	#12 (permalink)
munki Plate Coral Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 707 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: starfish question i top off when it needs it. ive had the star for a while and i havnt changed anything. he used to get hard when i would have to move him( i never took him out of the water) but today he was soft and he didnt tighten up at all. i fed him a few day ago and he didnt really eat that. i tried again today but he didnt eat. i think he is still falling apart and he is in his own tank.

07-29-2007, 09:48 PM	#14 (permalink)
munki Plate Coral Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 707 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: starfish question should i just kill it since i cant help it? how would i dispose of a starfish? -thanks

07-29-2007, 10:08 PM	#15 (permalink)
AdvanceAquatics Serpent Star Join Date: May 2007 Location: Lumberton NJ Posts: 201 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: starfish question is it an african red knob starfish...freddy had one-they need a big tank from what i understand his got 10"- Ate his soft corals,clams, another starfish, and other invertebrates. I called him when I read this-his died 2-he said PH and Temp would be the first thing to hurt it, unless it got an infection of some kind. temp:72-78ºF; sg 1.023-1.025; pH 8.1-8.4... Sorry to heard about this?Just trying to help figure out the cause! could it have an infection?can you QT him?

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