Red Starfish

How can you tell if a starfish is sick or dying???

 

um depends on the kind. Linkias will start to loose limbs. they will shrink and look bad.

 

Do they emit any toxins?

 

not that I know of....I have heard people say that on this site but I have not heard of it! Cucumbers, sea apples and such YES! Stars...not that I am aware of! I guess maybe in the way that any dead animal in your tank will through breakdown...but toxins?

Maybe somebody else can shed light on this...I have only had experience with linka, sandsifter and serpant stars. The only star I lost was a linka and it just melted almost....lost a leg and then became very slimy and shriveled up! I had to cull him..it was so sad to see. My sandsifter started to starve and came out of the sand and arched himself on all legs trying to catch fish...I sold him back to the store and will never have one of those again!

 

This is a red star---he looked great when I added him yesterday, he went from the sand right up on the front glass--but when I came home tonite, the ends on 2 of his arms are tore up a little--just the tips. I thought one of the fish might have been nipping him, but I have not seen anyone even come close to him--here is a pick of the kind of starfish it is

 

Well bad news---He looked horrible this morning--almost like all the tips were melting--I had to remove him--just did not feel comfortable with him in the tank RIP

 

bummer thats a pretty star...

 

Thanks

 

since no posioness starfish exist except the crown of thorns i willing to say no they dont release toxins. exceptionossibly crown of thorns although i dont know why someone would have one in the firstplace(its not rs, and never seen if for sale but who knows)

sorry for your loss, sea stars are one of those animals that dont seem hard but can be:-/