orange lincka star - flesh wounds

[CRW Reefer]

Anyone ever see this happen to a starfish or know what it might be from? Looks like 2 puncture wounds that now appear to be oozing flesh.

There is a hammer colony and a Hollywood Stunner in the tank, possibility that it got stung by one if them and this happen? Only a 6 line and a elbi tang in the tank and I can't imagine one of them nipping it but could be wrong.

Any experienced thoughts are appreciated

Yesterday

Today

 

[slapshot]

Looks like a bite wound. Not fatal unless it gets infected. Tank mates? Looks like a trigger. If the tank mates are good you might start looking for a bobbit worm or big crab.

 

[CRW Reefer]

I do have a crab that looks like a emerald but its white/pink. Not sure what it is, but are crabs known suspects for injuring starfish?

 

[GratefulReef]

sounds like a porcellin crab not sure if they will hurt the star but anythings possible

 

[CRW Reefer]

Been reading that this could be from sudden swings in salinity. It is in a 29 biocube without an ato, so it does fluctuate on salinity as I have only been topping off every 2 days or so. Anyone else have ant experiences with this happening?

 

[Cl0ne1]

salinity shift is definately a possibility....try keeping your salinity as stable as possible over the next few weeks. I watched this happen to 2 red thorny stars but if it was salinity that did this to mine then it was the shock from transfer because I top off everyday. Does the star move around?

Tank you for your time,

Kevin

 

[SeahorseKeeper]

Linckia starfish have very specific diets of bacterial film. I have not seen too many people have success with them even in large aquariums. They do not tolerate sudden shifts in water parameters. IMO, it looks like the starfish might be starting a downward spiral.

 

[CRW Reefer]

Yep star is gone, gone I am leaning toward it being exposed to air during acclamation bowl to tank. Wasn't aware they shouldn't be exposed to air until today. Well I guess that was my one and only attempt at a lincka, never again for me

 

[chort55]

A little air exposure will not kill it. They hit the air several times before makin its way to you... Dryin out or to much air exposure sure..... but I would suspect somethin else.

Also, orange linkias aren't truely linkias and are hardier then blue linkias.... however the one in ur pic doesn't look like any orange "linkia" I've seen anyways

 

[CRW Reefer]

Ya I think its actually a Blacktip Fromia Starfish not a normal orange lincka