Mocha starfish. Falling apart

G60bv · Mar 28, 2020

I have 2 bristle starfish. A black banded one and a mocha one. Also a sand sifter..

I thought the mocha was getting eaten. As I found i him tucked away a with most of his legs missing.. So I grabbed him and chucked him in the sump away from mouths. But this morning his legs are about 40mm long
. And I can see lumps of leg all around him! . The only change I've done in the past week. Is added 2 doses of Dino x. 25mm for 2 nights.. I did a 30l water change as usual on Thursday.
Tank is 425xl. Mixed reef.
0.0025 alk 9. 1 ca 440 mag 1300 temp 25.5c

homer1475 · Mar 28, 2020

Falling apart typically means they are dying. Have you fed it at all?

While I've never used dino-x(many other ways to defeat dino's without harmful chemicals), and just read thier product sheet, it does say it's coral and invert safe.

G60bv · Mar 28, 2020

No. Not intentionally fed it. I just thought it picked up scraps left over..

homer1475 · Mar 28, 2020

Try feeding it some meaty foods. Clams, chunk of frozen, etc. It may just be starving and the reason it's falling apart.

The sand sifter will kill your sandbed of any beneficial microfauna, and most likely will end up dying, unless your tank is very mature(couple years old), and has decent microfauna in the sandbed. Even then it may die once it depletes the sandbed.

G60bv · Mar 28, 2020

I've moved him to a container with the refugium return pipe work
I can add a cube in there and monitor if he eats

My other bristle starfish is fine!

homer1475 · Mar 28, 2020

Because ones probably getting food, and the other is not. They need to be fed!

Uncle99 · Mar 28, 2020

Starfish (except brittle stars) do not last long in captivity.

G60bv · Mar 28, 2020

My sand one I've had since September and he even lost an arm and grown it back. Its just been this one.. Well I monitored it today. And to be honest. It just got worse. So I have removed him from the system completely..

AcroNem · Mar 28, 2020

Uncle99 said:
Starfish (except brittle stars) do not last long in captivity.

*If not properly cared for* do not last long

And yes attempt to feed it if you can, once they start "falling apart" it is very difficult to stop. I feed my stars, including brittle stars twice weekly.

xxkenny90xx · Mar 28, 2020

Uncle99 said:
Starfish (except brittle stars) do not last long in captivity.

This just isn't true. I have a serpent star that has been in my tank for 5 years (my brittle star is 8 yrs old). FYI if they don't get enough food they will eat their own legs. Feed it!

G60bv · Mar 28, 2020

I'm struggling to see how I could feed it. Just it... It's usually hidden away. And any food put in the tank get eaten by. Well. Everything else! I turn all pumps off and feed frozen food every day.. Enough to go though and fill the tank. So if it was hungry. It would detect food and come out, but it didn't..

CCauthers · Mar 28, 2020

xxkenny90xx said:
This just isn't true. I have a serpent star that has been in my tank for 5 years (my brittle star is 8 yrs old). FYI if they don't get enough food they will eat their own legs. Feed it!

I have several serpent stars in my tank that have reproduced and been in there for years as well

xxkenny90xx · Mar 28, 2020

CCauthers said:
I have several serpent stars in my tank that have reproduced and been in there for years as well

You've had them reproduce? Are we talking micro brittles or full sized serpents? I have 2 brittles and 2 serpents but no luck with breeding

CCauthers · Mar 28, 2020

xxkenny90xx said:
You've had them reproduce? Are we talking micro brittles or full sized serpents? I have 2 brittles and 2 serpents but no luck with breeding

Yes, and they are full size brittles and serpents. Most around dinner plate size now.

Uncle99 · Mar 29, 2020

Yup, brittle stars, serpent stars, that group do well.

STARFISH, in the traditional sense, do not last.

But feel free to spend your money.

xxkenny90xx · Mar 29, 2020

Uncle99 said:
Yup, brittle stars, serpent stars, that group do well.

STARFISH, in the traditional sense, do not last.

But feel free to spend your money.

Asterina? Come on man theres too many types that do well for a general statemant like that

Uncle99 · Apr 1, 2020

Asterina?
Glad I have not one of these which are pests.....sorry...to me they are pests.

your right though, it’s general, for me, with maybe a couple of exceptions, never been able to keep one more than 6 months in more than 30 years.

I think they just starve.

That being said, can you give me some examples (not brittle not basket) that would live a long life in my DT?

xxkenny90xx · Apr 1, 2020

Uncle99 said:
Asterina?
Glad I have not one of these which are pests.....sorry...to me they are pests.

your right though, it’s general, for me, with maybe a couple of exceptions, never been able to keep one more than 6 months in more than 30 years.

I think they just starve.

That being said, can you give me some examples (not brittle not basket) that would live a long life in my DT?

I actually agree about the asterinas. I enjoyed having them for years and then one day they started eating coral. I'm not sure what other types of starfish you could try but that would make a great thread.