I have two chocolate chip starfish that each have a problem with one of their arms. They have both been on the bottom of each of their tanks with arms curled up for the last week and not on the glass and rocks as usual. This morning we woke up and my daughter noticed that they each have one arm that part of the skin and flesh is gone exposing white. Are they being eatten, dieing, or have somekind of disease? About 3-4 weeks ago had to treat both tanks with PimaFx because we had clown fish that had bumps that we had to take care of. The fish recovered and are doing fine but the starfish have not been right for the last week. Are they dieing or is there something I can do to help them?
Help w/Chocolate Chip Starfish
- Thread starter TammyReust
- Start date
What are your readings ? Stars are very sensitive to sudden changes in water chemistry. They more or less melt if there is a sudden change in variables. Their blood is pretty much made of tank water with a little hemoglobin in in and they also can connect calcium ions in order to stiffen as hard as rock or to be as loose as sea water. To sum up without getting into too much chemistry their body make ups don't allow them to adjust to sudden changes at all .
They may recover if you can solve what ever the water quality issue is. I would slowly adjust the water parameters so as not to shock them more. I'd take readings asap and then take a sample to either a friend or a lfs to verify that your test kit isn't faulty.
I'm not sure what's in the meds you used for your clowns but, if it contains any copper at all it is highly toxic most invertebrates. I'm not sure if it's toxic to stars since they have iron based blood instead of copper based but someone with more knowledge will hopefully chime in.
Please advise us as to your set up and other tank parameters. Stars are so sensative that they are sort of like the proverbial canary in the coal mine.
Welcome to A.C. and good luck
They may recover if you can solve what ever the water quality issue is. I would slowly adjust the water parameters so as not to shock them more. I'd take readings asap and then take a sample to either a friend or a lfs to verify that your test kit isn't faulty.
I'm not sure what's in the meds you used for your clowns but, if it contains any copper at all it is highly toxic most invertebrates. I'm not sure if it's toxic to stars since they have iron based blood instead of copper based but someone with more knowledge will hopefully chime in.
Please advise us as to your set up and other tank parameters. Stars are so sensative that they are sort of like the proverbial canary in the coal mine.
Welcome to A.C. and good luck
When chocolate chips and other knobby stars curl thier arms up its a stress reaction, usually means something was damaged in those arms. This is most often caused by a rapid PH, Nitrate, or Salinity change (choclate chips are REALLY tolorant and are hardy in wide range of conditions alot of more delicate ones wouldnt be able to handle, but rapid shifts will still injure them).
However keep an eye on the exposed white part and make sure it doesnt start to turn yellow/brown too much, as that might be a sign of an infection. My chocolate chip went through a similar situation when i had to raise the PH, did it a little to fast and its arms where curled for almost a week. Did alot of water changes and a few days later it was back to normal, however nothing was damaged or exposed. So keep up water quality and make sure you read the ingredients of ANY medications you put into the main tank.
However keep an eye on the exposed white part and make sure it doesnt start to turn yellow/brown too much, as that might be a sign of an infection. My chocolate chip went through a similar situation when i had to raise the PH, did it a little to fast and its arms where curled for almost a week. Did alot of water changes and a few days later it was back to normal, however nothing was damaged or exposed. So keep up water quality and make sure you read the ingredients of ANY medications you put into the main tank.