Bad news...

Discussion in 'Inverts' started by JJL, Jul 18, 2011.

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  1. JJL

    JJL Purple Tang

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    My starfish is melting. He is a sand sifter starfish and I know I shouldnt have him in a 34 gallon cube, but I have always had him from the start. I got him along with my live rock, which means I have had him for just about a year. The starfish appeared to be healthy until a few days ago when I saw one of his legs deteriorating. Then I knew it was the end for him :cry:.
    I guess I have to learn from my mistakes.
    JJL
     
    JJL, Jul 18, 2011
    JJL, Jul 18, 2011
    #1

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  2. SAY

    SAY Ocellaris Clown

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    unfortunately it can take them about that long to starve to death. those guys should be left in the ocean. sadly i have one in my tank too. A poor impulse buy from the early days of my tank.
     
    SAY, Jul 18, 2011
    SAY, Jul 18, 2011
    #2
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  3. JJL

    JJL Purple Tang

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    Yup. I agree about keeping them in the ocean. That little starfish was one of the first things I bought for my tank.
    Now the question is should I keep him in the tank or should I take him out? I dont want him to suffer, but I dont really know what to do. Also there was a tiny white snail like creature that was on my starfish since day 1 and now it has come off, I find this very odd. Do you know what it is? Was it part of the starfish?
     
    JJL, Jul 18, 2011
    JJL, Jul 18, 2011
    #3
  4. SAY

    SAY Ocellaris Clown

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    i'm not sure about the white thing that fell off. could have been a parasite of some kind. if you don't think that it is too late, you might try to find it a new home. possibly someone with a larger tank.
     
    SAY, Jul 18, 2011
    SAY, Jul 18, 2011
    #4
  5. JJL

    JJL Purple Tang

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    That is what I was thinking, but I really think it is the end for him. It has gotten much worse since last night and his arm is much shorter now also I have heard it is VERY hard for them to recover once they start melting :( . Should I just take him out? Should I try to find the white thing that fell off or should I not worry about it?
    Thanks for the help.
    JxL
     
    JJL, Jul 18, 2011
    JJL, Jul 18, 2011
    #5
  6. SAY

    SAY Ocellaris Clown

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    not sure on the white thing. They can recover. mine was missing part of two arms when i bought it (i didn't know why back then) and it recovered. i would definitely try. i'm sure your LFS knows someone that would take a free starfish.
     
    SAY, Jul 18, 2011
    SAY, Jul 18, 2011
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  7. JJL

    JJL Purple Tang

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    The problem is that my biggest LFS with tanks over 125 gallons is almost an hour away. I think an hour in the car for a melted starfish would kill him. :cry:
    What do they eat? Could I try to target feed him?
     
    JJL, Jul 18, 2011
    JJL, Jul 18, 2011
    #7
  8. SAY

    SAY Ocellaris Clown

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    i have never been successful in target feeding mine. My nassarius snails always beat the starfish to the food even when i stick it in the sand next to it.
     
    SAY, Jul 18, 2011
    SAY, Jul 18, 2011
    #8
  9. JJL

    JJL Purple Tang

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    I am going to call my LFS to see if they would even take him because I am pretty sure the one with bigger tanks does not take ANYTHING.
     
    JJL, Jul 18, 2011
    JJL, Jul 18, 2011
    #9
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  10. libog2fish

    libog2fish Fire Shrimp

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    I have one sand shifter in my 83 gallon...
    he some times gets me worried as we'll although I really got him for free from an in home reef depot...
    He was suppose to be fed to my pair of harliquens that i sold off 7 months ago to my godfather which he starved them to death:(:-[

    Anyhow my star is coming upon his 10 months in my reef and dunno how long he will wast either...:-/
     
    libog2fish, Jul 18, 2011
    libog2fish, Jul 18, 2011
    #10
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