I remembered this forum from when I first decided I wanted to look into saltwater aquariums and how you all are helpful and well-practiced. I wasn't quite sure where this post should go so I put it in the newbie section.
I've had my tank established for about three months now and I really do enjoy it. Anyway, I decided to add a chocolate chip starfish to my little ecosystem. I researched them a little and figured that they would be a great starting point as far as star fish and other more difficult animals go.
I added my CC starfish to my tank on Friday. Before I left to purchase him, I made sure my parameters were adequate, and they were. However, about 45 minutes into drip-accumulation, something came up and I had to put him into the tank early.
Anyway, his behavior is kind of strange to me. I researched it online but I was getting different answers from every source. He will climb to the very top of the tank and hold on with two or three arms while the rest of his body hangs backwards with his underside up towards the light and all of his little feelers poking around outside of the water. I was afraid that this meant that maybe he wasn't responding well to my parameters or that he was hungry for some reason. I put a piece of food on his underside and he used his feelers to pull it towards his mouth.
Also, my little hermit crab seemingly killed one of my new snails, or that's what it looked like anyway. But my starfish had stayed crowded over the dead snail for quite some time and when he finally left the shell was empty, so I'm assuming he ate it.
Finally, the cleanliness of my tank is kind of concerning me. There is some sort of green algae buildup that is very difficult to get off with the spongey tank cleaner I have. As well, my sand is turning a brownish color in some spots along the wall of the tank, and light brown residue is collecting on the sand surface in some areas. Is that animal waste, and how do I get rid of it?
Sorry for such an overload of questions, but my regular fish guy is unavailable until Saturday and I don't want anything to happen to my fish.
Thanks in advance!
I've had my tank established for about three months now and I really do enjoy it. Anyway, I decided to add a chocolate chip starfish to my little ecosystem. I researched them a little and figured that they would be a great starting point as far as star fish and other more difficult animals go.
I added my CC starfish to my tank on Friday. Before I left to purchase him, I made sure my parameters were adequate, and they were. However, about 45 minutes into drip-accumulation, something came up and I had to put him into the tank early.
Anyway, his behavior is kind of strange to me. I researched it online but I was getting different answers from every source. He will climb to the very top of the tank and hold on with two or three arms while the rest of his body hangs backwards with his underside up towards the light and all of his little feelers poking around outside of the water. I was afraid that this meant that maybe he wasn't responding well to my parameters or that he was hungry for some reason. I put a piece of food on his underside and he used his feelers to pull it towards his mouth.
Also, my little hermit crab seemingly killed one of my new snails, or that's what it looked like anyway. But my starfish had stayed crowded over the dead snail for quite some time and when he finally left the shell was empty, so I'm assuming he ate it.
Finally, the cleanliness of my tank is kind of concerning me. There is some sort of green algae buildup that is very difficult to get off with the spongey tank cleaner I have. As well, my sand is turning a brownish color in some spots along the wall of the tank, and light brown residue is collecting on the sand surface in some areas. Is that animal waste, and how do I get rid of it?
Sorry for such an overload of questions, but my regular fish guy is unavailable until Saturday and I don't want anything to happen to my fish.
Thanks in advance!
