Serpent Starfish Disintegrated

[PeterG]

Yesterday my Serpent Star made a rare appearances, crawling out from under one of his many hiding places. He looked fine.
Late in the afternoon I noticed his whole body was ripped open. looked like it had been attacked. I thought he was dead but after removing him from the tank his legs were moving so I dipped him briefly in an weak iodine solution for a few minutes and put him into an empty QT. By this AM his whole body had disintegrated and his legs were scattered about the tank. When I picked one up it was still moving. Reflexes or is this guy still alive?

Recent additions to my tank include a Sailfin Tang, Flame Angel, Scribbled Rabbitfish and a Black Darwin Clown. All went thru QT. None of them seemed to pay any attention to the star that I observed.

None of my other fish or inverts show any signs of injury or distress.
Any ideas what may have happened? Concerned that maybe I’ve got some flesh eating creature lurking about.

 

[Halal Hotdog]

I don't recall if the serpent is among these, but there is a class of starfish that can regenerate from just a leg. If the legs are still showing signs of life I would not toss them. BTW love scribble rabbit fish, have two in my DT and they are workhorses.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

If it’s a true serpent , It does need quite a bit to eat.


Personally I’d say hes done.

 

[Gareth elliott]

Agree with @saltyfilmfolks sea stars rarely regenerate in captivity.

If there are no livestock or starvation played a role in its demise(bumble bee or harlequin shrimp, or perhaps opportunistic crab as ideas) check salinity and alkalinity. Their water vascular makes them susceptible to parameter swings.

 

[PeterG]

I don't recall if the serpent is among these, but there is a class of starfish that can regenerate from just a leg. If the legs are still showing signs of life I would not toss them. BTW love scribble rabbit fish, have two in my DT and they are workhorses.

Was getting ready to take down that Qt but guess I'll leave it for a few days and see what happens. +1 on the Scribble Rabbitfish. Love that guy

If it’s a true serpent , It does need quite a bit to eat.


Personally I’d say hes done.

Don't know if it's a "true" serpent. One of the first critters I bought when I started this tank about a year ago. Ugly little guy, wife says he gives her the creeps but sad about what happened to him.
Looks done to me as well. But at this point it cant hurt to leave it be and see if anything happens.

Agree with @saltyfilmfolks sea stars rarely regenerate in captivity.

If there are no livestock or starvation played a role in its demise(bumble bee or harlequin shrimp, or perhaps opportunistic crab as ideas) check salinity and alkalinity. Their water vascular makes them susceptible to parameter swings.

No one ever paid him any mind. And other than new additions they all got along. Everyone well fed.
Salinity - 1.025 Alk - 7.9dKH

Anyone else have any thoughts on this?

 

[norfolkgarden]

.




No one ever paid him any mind. And other than new additions they all got along. Everyone well fed.
Salinity - 1.025 Alk - 7.9dKH

Anyone else have any thoughts on this?

Other than the fact that they are basically Bulletproof and they do eat a lot I can't really suggest anyting.

We have 8 different colored ones in a 75 gallon tank.
They are very cool. Three of them are out on a regular basis and I feed them as much as I feed the fish.
They eat a *lot*.

 

[EW_Fish]

Other than the fact that they are basically Bulletproof and they do eat a lot I can't really suggest anyting.

We have 8 different colored ones in a 75 gallon tank.
They are very cool. Three of them are out on a regular basis and I feed them as much as I feed the fish.
They eat a *lot*.

Did you order yours off line or get them from a LFS?

 

[PeterG]

Other than the fact that they are basically Bulletproof and they do eat a lot I can't really suggest anyting.

We have 8 different colored ones in a 75 gallon tank.
They are very cool. Three of them are out on a regular basis and I feed them as much as I feed the fish.
They eat a *lot*.

Never thought of them as eating a lot. Only had the one and he pretty much kept to himself. Bulletproof - not my guy. He looks like he kind of exploded.

Did you order yours off line or get them from a LFS?

He was from a LFS; one of the first animals I added when I started my tank. He'll be missed.

 

[norfolkgarden]

Did you order yours off line or get them from a LFS?

1 bright pale orange banded from online. 4-5"
Beautiful. See it 3 times in a year. (We have 200 pounds rock in a 75 gallon tank.)

The rest various LFS.
Bright red/orange 7-8"
Pale purple 7-8"
Brilliant white and jet black harlequin banded 5"
These 3 are out constantly and seem to rule the tank bottom and the rocks.

2 two tone grey harlequins that are still pretty and unusual, just not as pretty as the perfect black and white one. 6"

A dark (dull) red banded 5"
Again, another neat addition, but we have been really lucky finding some amazing ones.

2 black bristles serpents 6"
Something has been messing with one of them. 5 shortened arms. No clue.
Haven't seen either in several months.

Never had any luck with the whitish/pinkish bristly serpent starfish. Lost 4 over several years time, on and off.

This collection comes over several years time.
Several LFS know I like the unusual ones and it will turn over quickly if they can source one.

Lol, the 8" bright red/orange was $70.
The rest were under $24 or $12.

Having just 1 may be part of a clean up crew, but this many needs to be fed just like the fish.

 

[EW_Fish]

1 bright pale orange banded from online. 4-5"
Beautiful. See it 3 times in a year. (We have 200 pounds rock in a 75 gallon tank.)

The rest various LFS.
Bright red/orange 7-8"
Pale purple 7-8"
Brilliant white and jet black harlequin banded 5"
These 3 are out constantly and seem to rule the tank bottom and the rocks.

2 two tone grey harlequins that are still pretty and unusual, just not as pretty as the perfect black and white one. 6"

A dark (dull) red banded 5"
Again, another neat addition, but we have been really lucky finding some amazing ones.

2 black bristles serpents 6"
Something has been messing with one of them. 5 shortened arms. No clue.
Haven't seen either in several months.

Never had any luck with the whitish/pinkish bristly serpent starfish. Lost 4 over several years time, on and off.

This collection comes over several years time.
Several LFS know I like the unusual ones and it will turn over quickly if they can source one.

Lol, the 8" bright red/orange was $70.
The rest were under $24 or $12.

Having just 1 may be part of a clean up crew, but this many needs to be fed just like the fish.

Thats awesome!

 

[PeterG]

1 bright pale orange banded from online. 4-5"
Beautiful. See it 3 times in a year. (We have 200 pounds rock in a 75 gallon tank.)

The rest various LFS.
Bright red/orange 7-8"
Pale purple 7-8"
Brilliant white and jet black harlequin banded 5"
These 3 are out constantly and seem to rule the tank bottom and the rocks.

2 two tone grey harlequins that are still pretty and unusual, just not as pretty as the perfect black and white one. 6"

A dark (dull) red banded 5"
Again, another neat addition, but we have been really lucky finding some amazing ones.

2 black bristles serpents 6"
Something has been messing with one of them. 5 shortened arms. No clue.
Haven't seen either in several months.

Never had any luck with the whitish/pinkish bristly serpent starfish. Lost 4 over several years time, on and off.

This collection comes over several years time.
Several LFS know I like the unusual ones and it will turn over quickly if they can source one.

Lol, the 8" bright red/orange was $70.
The rest were under $24 or $12.

Ha

WoW! He's so cool looking. Mine was just solid dark brown. My wife thought he was creepy. Got him as part of the CUC as suggested by the LFS guy. Looked up my old invoice; he was $8.