Is my starfish going to make it?

[furyofthegnomes]

So I've had my starfish for probably six months now and everything was great. Yesterday out of the blue I saw my Red Line wrasse go after it though. The starfish had a couple wounds on it, one was kinda bad. It was late and my starfish got into the rockwork so i figured it'd be safe for the night as my wrasse goes to sleep early. This morning I checked on it before the lights came on and it was not good so I threw it in an acclimation box. Here's a shot from the backside of the starfish in my acclimation box, unfortunately this is the best angle I can get right now. The wounds are into the disc of the starfish. Do we think its going to make it? I'm completely emptying my sump and cleaning it out of a minor aiptasia outbreak tomorrow but then after I can put it in my sump to heal. Also I can't imagine what else might have attacked it, the only recent addition to the tank is an abalone.

 

[Ron Reefman]

I have had a fair amount of experience with serpent and brittle stars over the years. I get mine for free when we go snorkeling in the Florida Keys.

I've had some good size stars lose a leg or 2 or 3 and still survive.

But I've never had one with wounds like that on the central disk. That doesn't look good. But I think you've done the right thing by isolating it. Make sure it eats. Given the current condition I'd give it a 50/50 chance (but that's just a wild guess). If those wounds get uglier and start to get bigger over the next 3 to 7 days, I'd say it's probably bad news. But if they stay the same, it may heal over time (like 3 to 8 weeks).

Good luck and I hope the star survives. They are one of my favorite aquarium animals (behind anemones).

 

[furyofthegnomes]

Thanks for your reply, your guess of 50/50 does give me a little hope. I'm anxious to check on it but I don't want to stress it and shine a flashlight on him as the tank is in a dark room. He's probably my favorite reef inhabitant so I'm really hoping he makes it. I'll post any updates, good or bad, for future reference.

 

[Miller535]

I am curious what kind of star that is?

I had a serpent star that most of it's legs got ripped off to the disc, I never figured out what happened to it. Then I saw it again like a month later and they were all growing back. They are pretty darn resilient

 

[furyofthegnomes]

Its a red serpent starfish. The tips of his legs are white because they were missing when i got him and they've grown back like that.

 

[Miller535]

Its a red serpent starfish. The tips of his legs are white because they were missing when i got him and they've grown back like that.

Oh ok, actually think he looks pretty cool like that.

 

[Ron Reefman]

Its a red serpent starfish. The tips of his legs are white because they were missing when i got him and they've grown back like that.

It's not a big deal, and I don't mean to be picking on you. This is just for information.

Most scientists and reefer call them sea stars rather than the old term of starfish. They aren't fish, so the term has fallen out of general use.

 

[furyofthegnomes]

It's not a big deal, and I don't mean to be picking on you. This is just for information.

Most scientists and reefer call them sea stars rather than the old term of starfish. They aren't fish, so the term has fallen out of general use.

Haha, thank you, no offense taken. If the sea star makes it I'll be impressed. Its almost like his body is just breaking apart at this point. He still moves around a bunch but he really doesn't look good. I almost want to put him out of his misery but I wouldn't know how.

 

[furyofthegnomes]

Here's a new

picture.

 

[Ron Reefman]

You're right, that doesn't look good. I suspect the deterioration will just continue. I'll hope for the best, but you probably should prepare for the worst. Sorry to say. ;Sorry

 

[furyofthegnomes]

Well the central disc proceeded to just deteriorate throughout the day. All that are left are three individual arms and two that are connected by a small portion of the central disc so I'm pulling them out of the tank. I'll wait until the wrasse is gone before I get another star.