Brittle star ends are cut

[Joseph_Joe]

Hi all,

I noticed that the ends of most of my brittle star legs are cut.
Usually, the ends are sharp and covered by her outter skin (brown since it's an ophiolepis superba).
Mine has legs that look cut and the end is white (which seems to be the inner body of the brittle star).
Is she attacked by hermit crabs ?
Is she suffering from a disease ?
Are water parameters not fine ?

Thanks in advance.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hi all,

I noticed that the ends of most of my brittle star legs are cut.
Usually, the ends are sharp and covered by her outter skin (brown since it's an ophiolepis superba).
Mine has legs that look cut and the end is white (which seems to be the inner body of the brittle star).
Is she attacked by hermit crabs ?
Is she suffering from a disease ?
Are water parameters not fine ?

Thanks in advance.

Crabs such as emerald will often cause this but if no crabs as tank seems awfully clean, can be stress from low PH as well as starving or poor acclimation.
I see plants- are these plastic?
Also is this aquarium gravel or actual reef sand?

 

[Joseph_Joe]

Crabs such as emerald will often cause this but if no crabs as tank seems awfully clean, can be stress from low PH as well as starving or poor acclimation.
I see plants- are these plastic?
Also is this aquarium gravel or actual reef sand?

Crabs are 2 months old and I think they are the ones living their best life among all since they gave birth to 2 extra ones, molting and enough empty shells available.
Thanks for saying my tank is clean actually it isn't at all, I just took the picture in an area that is somehow clean.
I agree, I tested today and my pH was low (7.6). I overfed the tank because I added some fishes days ago and I didn't fine tune yet the best quantity to give.
Plants are real, the one you can see is a Caulerpa (with hair algae cause my phosphate is high).
I have a deep bed sand, upper layer is gravel, lower one is silica based (which cause me constant diatoms on glass).

I remember now that my star used to hide very close to a BTA last days. Did she burn her ends ?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Crabs are 2 months old and I think they are the ones living their best life among all since they gave birth to 2 extra ones, molting and enough empty shells available.
Thanks for saying my tank is clean actually it isn't at all, I just took the picture in an area that is somehow clean.
I agree, I tested today and my pH was low (7.6). I overfed the tank because I added some fishes days ago and I didn't fine tune yet the best quantity to give.
Plants are real, the one you can see is a Caulerpa (with hair algae cause my phosphate is high).
I have a deep bed sand, upper layer is gravel, lower one is silica based (which cause me constant diatoms on glass).

I remember now that my star used to hide very close to a BTA last days. Did she burn her ends ?

The gravel which offers No PH buffering also has sharp edges which can cut. Not knowing you had crabs- They are my suspect but PH is important as is elevated phos level

 

[Joseph_Joe]

The gravel which offers No PH buffering also has sharp edges which can cut. Not knowing you had crabs- They are my suspect but PH is important as is elevated phos level

Okay, I will take care of those levels by frequent water changes the next days. My star is also 2 months old and she didnt suffer that. I read that she can regrow them, I hope she will fine

 

[Garf]

Hi all,

I noticed that the ends of most of my brittle star legs are cut.
Usually, the ends are sharp and covered by her outter skin (brown since it's an ophiolepis superba).
Mine has legs that look cut and the end is white (which seems to be the inner body of the brittle star).
Is she attacked by hermit crabs ?
Is she suffering from a disease ?
Are water parameters not fine ?

Thanks in advance.

Mine was always chopping arms off in the pumps, they grow back, if it is something similar.

 

[anemonalex]

My money is on the ph. Low carbonate is detrimental to these guys. They also will eat themselves if they are hungry. I add a small piece of cod or shrimp, I always get wild caught. I got this guy march 15. His leg broke in the bag you can see new growth.

 

[anemonalex]

Crabs are 2 months old and I think they are the ones living their best life among all since they gave birth to 2 extra ones, molting and enough empty shells available.
Thanks for saying my tank is clean actually it isn't at all, I just took the picture in an area that is somehow clean.
I agree, I tested today and my pH was low (7.6). I overfed the tank because I added some fishes days ago and I didn't fine tune yet the best quantity to give.
Plants are real, the one you can see is a Caulerpa (with hair algae cause my phosphate is high).
I have a deep bed sand, upper layer is gravel, lower one is silica based (which cause me constant diatoms on glass).

I remember now that my star used to hide very close to a BTA last days. Did she burn her ends ?

What kind of crabs do you have that gave birth to 2 other crabs? Got a picture?

 

[Joseph_Joe]

What kind of crabs do you have that gave birth to 2 other crabs? Got a picture?

I got lucky Indeed, I ordered 5 (part of a CUC kit) and 1 month later they became 7.
I am based in France so names may be different. According to Wiki, you may call it "blue-eyed hermit crab, zebra hermit crab, dwarf zebra hermit crab, left-handed hermit crab, Hawaiian reef hermit"