Starfish help? What is this? Is it supposed to be there?

[CaptainCooke]

Hi everyone,

I recently was given an Icon starfish. I know they are tough to keep but I’m going to try. It seems healthy and bright.... but it has this strange cone shaped thing on its top. I have never seen something like this on a starfish before. Is it natural? Is it part of the starfish? Should I try and remove it?

photos below!
thanks!

 

[RedFrog211]

In my opinion, it looks like a mollusk that has attached to the starfish. Perhaps a limpet?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Nice Icon Sea Star (aka double sea star). They are very intoloerant of changes in water chemistry especially sudden changes in oxygen levels, salinity and pH readings as well as any medication. With such change, their skin is affected and i would verify, ph and salinity for sure as well as nitrate and phosphate.
As for what is on it- looks like a collanista snail.

 

[CaptainCooke]

Nice Icon Sea Star (aka double sea star). They are very intoloerant of changes in water chemistry especially sudden changes in oxygen levels, salinity and pH readings as well as any medication. With such change, their skin is affected and i would verify, ph and salinity for sure as well as nitrate and phosphate.
As for what is on it- looks like a collanista snail.

I have been slowly acclimating it for the past 5 hours with a very very slow drip.
I was thinking it looked like a snail of some sort too? Should I try and pull it off? It definitely isn’t part of the starfish right?

 

[vetteguy53081]

I have been slowly acclimating it for the past 5 hours with a very very slow drip.
I was thinking it looked like a snail of some sort too? Should I try and pull it off? It definitely isn’t part of the starfish right?

NOT part of star and pulling off may cause injury, however, you could try to wiggle it and it should retract and fall off.
Drip for at least 6 hours is ideal acclimation process. These are very pretty but challenging stars. Hope it works out
Also . . . It should never be exposed to air while handling it . Keep it under water even after acclimation and transfer

 

[TriggerFinger]

I do believe that’s his Santa hat. ;Hilarious
Really not sure what it is. I hope the starfish does well for you, it’s really nice looking!

 

[CaptainCooke]

So I did tap whatever the Santa hat is. It definitely seems attached well or deep. I’m going to leave it for now. Attached is a more close up photo. I’m not sure it is a snail.

 

[samnaz]

Looks like a Limpet

 

[homer1475]

Looks like a Limpet

+1
Looks like a limpet to me too.

 

[TriggerFinger]

hey @CaptainCooke have a look at this link, it appears to match a parasitic snail on a star like yours in this article. http://echinoblog.blogspot.com/2014/06/p-is-for-parasitic-snail-enter-eulimidae.html

 

[CaptainCooke]

This is exactly what it is. Now how do I get rid of it and save my star? Should I try and crush it?

hey @CaptainCooke have a look at this link, it appears to match a parasitic snail on a star like yours in this article. http://echinoblog.blogspot.com/2014/06/p-is-for-parasitic-snail-enter-eulimidae.html

 

[TriggerFinger]

This is exactly what it is. Now how do I get rid of it and save my star? Shops I try and crush it?

They burrow into or attach with a probe to the flesh. I am not sure how you would remove it without hurting the star. Sorry.

Edit: @vetteguy53081 or @Jay Hemdal any ideas on how to remove a parasitic snail that’s attached to a starfish?

 

[CaptainCooke]

They burrow into or attach with a probe to the flesh. I am not sure how you would remove it without hurting the star. Sorry.

Edit: @vetteguy53081 or @Jay Hemdal any ideas on how to remove a parasitic snail that’s attached to a starfish?

I went ahead and delicately grabbed the parasite shell at the very base with a pair of nail clippers and crushed it. The shell came apart and fully separated. There is some snail flesh still in the hole left behind but I’m hoping this killed the snail and the starfish can heal.
I figured it would definitely kill the starfish if I left there... this way at least it might have a good fighting chance.
Photos below.

 

[RedFrog211]

Best of luck friend! Hope the star heals quickly

 

[CaptainCooke]

Just a quick update. The starfish is all healed, seems healthy, and happy as a clam starfish! It has a colored spot where it’s hard plate grew back but it seems all good now! Thank you everyone who helped with this!