What’s wrong with my starfish?

[KJones90s]

Why is that huge hole there????

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

How long have you had it? Starfish can start falling apart several weeks after introduction due to mishandling during transport or stress during acclimation. If you’ve had it for several months, I would guess some kind of physical trauma / damage.

 

[Bryson.bobby]

It doesn’t look too bad. Here’s a thread on mine when it had a huge gash and it healed up great.

Gash on serpent starfish.
https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink?sh...ash-on-serpent-starfish..604748/&share_type=t

 

[KJones90s]

How long have you had it? Starfish can start falling apart several weeks after introduction due to mishandling during transport or stress during acclimation. If you’ve had it for several months, I would guess some kind of physical trauma / damage.

I’ve had it for about 25-30 days

 

[KJones90s]

Bump

 

[Cment]

have you tried feeding it any food? some times this can happen to starfish after acclimation due to change in parameters too quickly. I have had stars lose legs before and not perish and they regenerate the leg. Keep water parameters stable and maybe try feeding it some meaty foods every few days over the next few weeks and see what happens. FWIW the white doesn't look too concerning right now so long it doesn't get worse.

 

[Bryson.bobby]

Did you check out the thread I posted? That’s proof that they’re very resilient and that you probably won’t need to worry...

 

[KJones90s]

Did you check out the thread I posted? That’s proof that they’re very resilient and that you probably won’t need to worry...

Yes, thank you.
Hopefully the same will happen with my star

 

[Bryson.bobby]

Yes, thank you.
Hopefully the same will happen with my star

I hope so too! Just make sure it continues to eat. If (god forbid) it stops eating because it can’t move it’s arms, try to ‘shove’ the food into its mouth.

 

[KJones90s]

UPDATE: Star seems to worsening. Any suggestions on what I can do to help???? Do I just need to let nature run its course?
It hasn’t eaten in days, all testing says water parameters are within range.

 

[KJones90s]

#MODS can we move this to the tank emergency forum?

 

[Cment]

Personally I would leave it be. Keep tank parameters as stable as possible and wait it out

 

[KJones90s]

Personally I would leave it be. Keep tank parameters as stable as possible and wait it out

I was thinking about putting him in my refugium so that my peppermint shrimp don’t pick at him, I saw them picking at him a few days ago but lately they seem to have left him alone.
Good idea or no?
I don’t have a quarantine tank...

 

[Cment]

I was thinking about putting him in my refugium so that my peppermint shrimp don’t pick at him, I saw them picking at him a few days ago but lately they seem to have left him alone.
Good idea or no?
I don’t have a quarantine tank...

You can do that if need be and if you won't damage him further. Starfish can take a long time to regenerate a leg or other tissue. It does look more concerning bc its closer to its disc, but I would still wait things out and not do anything too drastic. FWIW I hate peppermint shrimp I feel like they're the devil lol. I would remove them first before the starfish

 

[KJones90s]

You can do that if need be and if you won't damage him further. Starfish can take a long time to regenerate a leg or other tissue. It does look more concerning bc its closer to its disc, but I would still wait things out and not do anything too drastic. FWIW I hate peppermint shrimp I feel like they're the devil lol. I would remove them first before the starfish

Yea I’ve been thinking about getting rid of them ever since they are my brand new hammer Coral.

I fear removing them will be a lot of work though.
They usually stay pretty buried in my rockwork.

 

[KJones90s]

Yea I’ve been thinking about getting rid of them ever since they are my brand new hammer Coral.

I fear removing them will be a lot of work though.
They usually stay pretty buried in my rockwork.

Why do you dislike them so much?

 

[Cment]

I have some NPS corals, they steal the food from them. I had a few aptasia and they decided the liked the food I fed better and didn't do anything to the aptasia. I fed less they destroyed my hammer and torch corals. Trapped them and sumped them

 

[KJones90s]

I have some NPS corals, they steal the food from them. I had a few aptasia and they decided the liked the food I fed better and didn't do anything to the aptasia. I fed less they destroyed my hammer and torch corals. Trapped them and sumped them

Not worried they’ll kill your copepod population?

 

[Bryson.bobby]

Based off my experience, I would let nature run its course. If it stops eating try to “shove” the food into its mouth.

 

[Cment]

Not worried they’ll kill your copepod population?

Nope. I have an oversized sump and fuge. I don’t use filter socks and feed plenty.