20 year old red Brittle Star legs falling off, help

[Debramb]

He’s our oldest member. Mark from Meleves Reef tested our tank, yes, Very Lucky to know him! He advised our phosphate level was off the charts, our R/O on our well didn’t perform. That’s about a yr ago the levels raised, my plants were dying from R/O water. At the same time we were considering his unit, I found 125 gallon tank, stand and sump and BRS 5 stage 75 gal R/ODI unit for sale, we purchased .
Our phosphates are gradually dropping.
I’m sorry for the long post, all this happened with “Spidey” within an hour or so, I’ve got him in big net with frozen brine, anyone experience this? Our tank is well established, live rock 25-30 yrs old, now we know where the algae outbreak feeds on, thanks Mark, you gave us so much advise I’m looking forward to your Marcna live event next Sat!
If any ideas, I’d love input, we have 125 tank not set up and 100 gal on the other side of living room, husband won’t let me set up quarantine tank too.
We plan on stabilizing present tank before move to 125

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

He’s our oldest member. Mark from Meleves Reef tested our tank, yes, Very Lucky to know him! He advised our phosphate level was off the charts, our R/O on our well didn’t perform. That’s about a yr ago the levels raised, my plants were dying from R/O water. At the same time we were considering his unit, I found 125 gallon tank, stand and sump and BRS 5 stage 75 gal R/ODI unit for sale, we purchased .
Our phosphates are gradually dropping.
I’m sorry for the long post, all this happened with “Spidey” within an hour or so, I’ve got him in big net with frozen brine, anyone experience this? Our tank is well established, live rock 25-30 yrs old, now we know where the algae outbreak feeds on, thanks Mark, you gave us so much advise I’m looking forward to your Marcna live event next Sat!
If any ideas, I’d love input, we have 125 tank not set up and 100 gal on the other side of living room, husband won’t let me set up quarantine tank too.
We plan on stabilizing present tank before move to 125

Can you please post pictures?

Jay

 

[vetteguy53081]

He’s our oldest member. Mark from Meleves Reef tested our tank, yes, Very Lucky to know him! He advised our phosphate level was off the charts, our R/O on our well didn’t perform. That’s about a yr ago the levels raised, my plants were dying from R/O water. At the same time we were considering his unit, I found 125 gallon tank, stand and sump and BRS 5 stage 75 gal R/ODI unit for sale, we purchased .
Our phosphates are gradually dropping.
I’m sorry for the long post, all this happened with “Spidey” within an hour or so, I’ve got him in big net with frozen brine, anyone experience this? Our tank is well established, live rock 25-30 yrs old, now we know where the algae outbreak feeds on, thanks Mark, you gave us so much advise I’m looking forward to your Marcna live event next Sat!
If any ideas, I’d love input, we have 125 tank not set up and 100 gal on the other side of living room, husband won’t let me set up quarantine tank too.
We plan on stabilizing present tank before move to 125

Unfortunately, high phosphate and nitrate will cause this as well as starvation and low salt/high temperature

 

[Debramb]

Trying photos

 

[Debramb]

Can you please post pictures?

Jay

 

[Debramb]

I’m not good at this, I appreciate any help, sorry pics took so long, I’ve had hid phos. For a yr or so, would it just now affect him?

 

[Debramb]

I did see adult Lemonpeel nip at him when he was close to him domain,

 

[KrisReef]

I’m wondering if the animal has come to the end of its life expectancy?

If you can move it to a safe location (sump) perhaps it will survive without the fish nipping at it?

Sorry it’s not looking good.

 

[Debramb]

Jeez, thanks, I read online info that said lifespan is 5 to 6 yrs! I know he’s at least 20 because he was good size when we got him, my thought is the same, old age.
Debra

 

[Debramb]

Jeez, thanks, I read online info that said lifespan is 5 to 6 yrs! I know he’s at least 20 because he was good size when we got him, my thought is the same, old age.
Debra

Oh, he’s in a huge net w/brine shrimp, husband doing water change, not sure if he’d get pulled in the return pump!

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Oh, he’s in a huge net w/brine shrimp, husband doing water change, not sure if he’d get pulled in the return pump!

I also think 20 years is well into the maximum lifespan for this species - I've never kept one that long. However, the fresh breaks like that seem to indicate "autonomy" - this is a defense starfish use against predators, dropping limbs to avoid capture. They also do this in response to water quality stress. If the issue is resolved (and I'm not sure which it was in this case) the star can regrow its lost arms.

Jay