Problem with Red General Star in Marine tank...

[jamesgjatkin]

Hi all,

My Red General Star (Red Knobbed, various other names I have heard) has been sat still for a couple of days. I checked it out this morning, and it looks like something has attempted to eat it!!!



Any idea what has happened???? Was fine before this, munching happily on Muscle or whatever meaty foods it could get its hands (well, legs) on!!!

Has this been attacked? I have no fish in the tank that would do this, and only small hermits.

I have noticed at dark a few large Bristle Worms - could they do this?????

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,

James

 

[VLDesign]

It's dying.

Stars will disintegrate like this when they die.

Check your water parameters and make sure the salinity levels are high enough to support starfish. (1.025 is where I would keep them at)

Sudden changes in water parameters can cause bacterial infections that may cause necrosis of its arms, and even death.

 

[jamesgjatkin]

Oh!
I did a test last night and the salinity was running high - 1.029! I did a partial water change a week ago and the LFH supplied pre-mix water that was way too high in salinity. Didn't know this until after I had added it.
Lesson learned - test before adding! Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
I have been running it at 1.026-1.027, which is where it is now.
Is there anything I can do to recover the starfish?
If not, I do not want it to suffer so what can I do to be as humane as possible?
Thanks...

 

[jamesgjatkin]

It really sounds like the salinity is the problem, but are there any other things I should be checking?
Nitrites, Nitrates, Phosphates are all Zero

 

[jamesgjatkin]

pH is running between 8.1 and 8.5 throughout the day, and temperature is around 25-26 Deg C (I have a Seneye monitoring these)

 

[jamesgjatkin]

Hi,
I think it is too late for him now :-(
Throughout today he has pretty much deflated & disintegrated!
Will this release toxins into the tank? I have moved him into a small tank hanging on the inside of the tank, with holes in the side to allow water to flow - should I isolate him totally from the tank now? I'd like to give him every opportunity to recover, but I think it is too late :-(
James

 

[VLDesign]

I've never seen one recover once this starts.

Sorry..

 

[jamesgjatkin]

Thanks for the replies anyway - sadly he's gone :-(
Shame, he was really interesting to watch....

 

[VLDesign]

Stars are very cool creatures.

Get a serpent star they are pretty tough.

 

[jamesgjatkin]

Thanks for the advice, I will take a look
Best regards,
James