Starfish ?

[sangria517]

Has anyone had a starfish die via Sea Star Wasting Disease (SSWD) ? I have had an Orange Linkia starfish for over a month now in my 180g tank. He has been doing great from my observations. Active every day, no lesions, good color. I know they are hard to keep alive so I made a point of spot feeding him from the get go. He very much liked it as he knew his special feeding time was when the lights were coming on. So every morning, he was always at the front of the tank where I had easy access to him. I would feed everyone else, turn off the pumps, then spot feed him. Once done, he would go about his merry day and would come back the next morning. Yesterday was no different. Did the same old routine and went about my day. I was gone most of the day so I did not get to see the tank a lot. When I checked the next morning, the star fish looked like he had been ripped apart. I have only found three arms so far and they were all in different areas of the tank.

Other livestock in the tank
1 urchin
2 halloween hermits
4 clowns
1diamond goby
1 6line
1 Royal
snails
cleaner shrimp


Params
Salinty-1.025
NO3-15
PO4 0.5 (while high, this is normal for this tank and has been this one since it was set up.)
NH3-0
Ca-410
NO2-0
Temp-80
pH-7.9 (AM testing)
ALK-8

Any thoughts? Could the hermits have grabbed him? I have found a couple empty snail shells. But they were smaller snails, too small for the Halloween hermits, but wasn't sure. Should I consider upping the feeding? They currently get fed once a day but it is a large amount.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Any thoughts? Could the hermits have grabbed him? I have found a couple empty snail shells. But they were smaller snails, too small for the Halloween hermits, but wasn't sure. Should I consider upping the feeding? They currently get fed once a day but it is a large amount.

Has anyone had a starfish die via Sea Star Wasting Disease (SSWD) ? I have had an Orange Linkia starfish for over a month now in my 180g tank. He has been doing great from my observations. Active every day, no lesions, good color. I know they are hard to keep alive so I made a point of spot feeding him from the get go.

Most stars in our tanks die in a way that strongly resembles SSWD, yes (though we don't know if it's the actual condition of just resembles it) - most people don't notice anything wrong until limbs start dropping off.

I doubt hermits would go for a sea star, but it's technically possible. With it making it a month, I would assume the star was either in poor condition when you got it, or some parameter swung in the tank to cause the sudden change (I admit to thinking this is unlikely though; I think it's more likely the star was already in poor health).

 

[vetteguy53081]

Has anyone had a starfish die via Sea Star Wasting Disease (SSWD) ? I have had an Orange Linkia starfish for over a month now in my 180g tank. He has been doing great from my observations. Active every day, no lesions, good color. I know they are hard to keep alive so I made a point of spot feeding him from the get go. He very much liked it as he knew his special feeding time was when the lights were coming on. So every morning, he was always at the front of the tank where I had easy access to him. I would feed everyone else, turn off the pumps, then spot feed him. Once done, he would go about his merry day and would come back the next morning. Yesterday was no different. Did the same old routine and went about my day. I was gone most of the day so I did not get to see the tank a lot. When I checked the next morning, the star fish looked like he had been ripped apart. I have only found three arms so far and they were all in different areas of the tank.

Other livestock in the tank
1 urchin
2 halloween hermits
4 clowns
1diamond goby
1 6line
1 Royal
snails
cleaner shrimp


Params
Salinty-1.025
NO3-15
PO4 0.5 (while high, this is normal for this tank and has been this one since it was set up.)
NH3-0
Ca-410
NO2-0
Temp-80
pH-7.9 (AM testing)
ALK-8

Any thoughts? Could the hermits have grabbed him? I have found a couple empty snail shells. But they were smaller snails, too small for the Halloween hermits, but wasn't sure. Should I consider upping the feeding? They currently get fed once a day but it is a large amount.

There is wasting or disintegration but often due to poor conditions, starvation and even disease.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

He probably wasn't actually doing great since youve had him...it isnt easy to notice signs of ill health.

 

[sangria517]

Most stars in our tanks die in a way that strongly resembles SSWD, yes (though we don't know if it's the actual condition of just resembles it) - most people don't notice anything wrong until limbs start dropping off.

I doubt hermits would go for a sea star, but it's technically possible. With it making it a month, I would assume the star was either in poor condition when you got it, or some parameter swung in the tank to cause the sudden change (I admit to thinking this is unlikely though; I think it's more likely the star was already in poor health).

I knew going into getting him the odds were not in my favor. Hence why he got daily checks and spot feeds. Win some loose some. I do not know if I will get another one though. I think this might be a been there done that thing.