marble star problem

saltydunc

saltydunc

AC Members
Apr 11, 2007
1,027
0
36
56
dundee scotland
i purchased a marble starfish 2 weeks ago,,,since i put it in the tank it hasn't moved much and its now seems to be losing the tips of its legs....the very tips have actually fallen off....i don't think this is meant to happen!.....if anyone has any ideas i'd be grateful.
 
I was looking at one of those but got put off because they're not recommended for most tanks and tend to die of malnutrition. Apparantly an established tank with sponges and small sessile animals for grazing provides the best chance.

How did you acclimate it?
 
how old is your tank? what are your levels? make sure to include SG
 
the tanks been running for a year.....nitrate is 5mg/l.....nitrite zero ....ph 8.2......sg 1.022....temp 80f.....theres assorted softies mushrooms , a leather,zoas and button polyps,,,,also a condy anemone which are all thriving
 
with any inverts, ESPECIALLY echinoderms, you are going to want to keep a higher specific gravity of at least 1.024 but preferably towards 1.025-1.026. Without a LONG acclimation, it's possible that that might have weakened the star or killed it slowly.
 
the star has started to move around a little now but its looking in a bad way....one of its legs is only about half the size it should be......its like its legs are melting away.....i'll bring the SG up slowly over the next few weeks but i don't think the wee guys going to make it......theres actually bits of its legs lying around the rock where it sits.....:(
 
its actually moving quite alot tonight but still not in great shape by any means.....i'll keep a close eye on it and make sure it doesn't stay in there any lengh of time if it dies....hopefully its limbs have went like that through some kind of shock and it might recover....keeping my fingers crossed.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom