Starfish dead after 3 days

blackstallion · Jun 16, 2020

Can anyone identify what type of Starfish this was? It died after 3 days. What are they most sensitive to? Extremely sensitive to salinity? Temperature? And what are there predators? I have crabs, hermits, coral banded shrimp and trocus snails in the tank along with a Sailfin and clowns.

Rsnapp31 · Jun 16, 2020

Looks like a sand-sifter, is this a new tank? Water has to be perfect at all times for starfish.

blackstallion · Jun 16, 2020

Rsnapp31 said:
Looks like a sand-sifter, is this a new tank? Water has to be perfect at all times for starfish.

About 9 months. Do they have predators? Looks like his legs were broken off.

Vette67 · Jun 16, 2020

Looks like a sand sifting starfish. Really only good in well established sand beds. They are voracious eaters, and most sand beds can’t support their appetite. So it most likely starved. Although 3 days would seem quick. They are sensitive to pH, and need very good water conditions.

blackstallion · Jun 16, 2020

Vette67 said:
Looks like a sand sifting starfish. Really only good in well established sand beds. They are voracious eaters, and most sand beds can’t support their appetite. So it most likely starved. Although 3 days would seem quick. They are sensitive to pH, and need very good water conditions.

pH was 8.0 when I checked on the weekend. Maybe he was not doing well from the LFS.

Vette67 · Jun 16, 2020

blackstallion said:
pH was 8.0 when I checked on the weekend. Maybe he was not doing well from the LFS.

That’s quite possible. They can last a while, but depending on how long it was at the pet store, it may have been unhealthy when you got it. And then the stress of moving and acclimation could have put it over the edge.

Tamberav · Jun 16, 2020

blackstallion said:
Can anyone identify what type of Starfish this was? It died after 3 days. What are they most sensitive to? Extremely sensitive to salinity? Temperature? And what are there predators? I have crabs, hermits, coral banded shrimp and trocus snails in the tank along with a Sailfin and clowns.

They are sensative to changing parameters....new tanks....tanks wothout much life....small tanks...lack of food... poor handling from capture to your LFS to you.... And for some just being in captivity in general.