I am mad, what the heck is eating my star?

[Redemption]

I have 4 sand stars, day after I bought them I noticed that one of them was missing half of two of her legs. I got suspicious but decided to keep an eye to see if any others went on missing legs. I am always looking at tank and never saw anything "fishy" lol get it "fishy" anyway yesterday I look at the star and I am shocked to see that 2 legs are almost gone completelly.

Even then I tought that maybe it was normal to loose leg completelly and then regenerate "there was no foul play".

Today however I see a new leg almost torn with green stuff visible, I want to know whom do you think is the culprit eating the star. I swear I will shop vac its rear end out of the tank. I doubt star will live with all the damage, I am so upset. Anyway here are the residents of my tank;


Livestock;

3 Yellow tangs
1 Sailfin Tang
1 Maroon Clown
3 Cleaner shrimp
1 Blood shrimp
20 hermit crabs
1 orange star
3 sand sifting stars
2 anemonies

[DebsSisterFlo]

4 tangs? I hope it's a really big tank? *bump* to get this post noticed and addressed asap! Hope someone has an answer for you!

[three90s&125sump]

It will live. They have hella regeneration. You may have a small lobster in there. I wouldn't blame anything you have listed there it may be a hitch hiker.

Maybe an anemone is burning it.

[Doug1]

What acclimation process did you go thru to get the stars from the LFS to your tank?
Did you have the shop measure specific gravity and do you know yours off the top of your head?
Reason I ask is that stars are REALLY susceptable to sudden changes in salinity and specific gravity. The workings of their arms are the result of some extremely complicated internal plumbing.
Many are shipped poorly and it often doesnt take long for them to start to disintegrate before your eyes

4 tangs, Really, how is that going? how big are they and how long have you hed them?

[Redemption]

The anemonies I have do not sting The only hitchhicker I seen was a crab but I think she died as I remember seing her carcaus before. I have moved my rocks several times and never seen anything out the ordinary. Any other ideas what could be eating the star?


DebsSisterFlo,

I had 5 tangs but the powder blue died with ick, the tank is 144 Half circle oceanic.

[three90s&125sump]

I think doug has a point.

[Redemption]

Originally Posted by Doug1

What acclimation process did you go thru to get the stars from the LFS to your tank?
Did you have the shop measure specific gravity and do you know yours off the top of your head?
Reason I ask is that stars are REALLY susceptable to sudden changes in salinity and specific gravity. The workings of their arms are the result of some extremely complicated internal plumbing.
Many are shipped poorly and it often doesnt take long for them to start to disintegrate before your eyes

4 tangs, Really, how is that going? how big are they and how long have you hed them?

The tangs have been in my tank for about 2 months and they look fine and healthy. I never had gravity measurred, should I do that tomorrow? Why does the leg circled looks like comething ripped it, green stuff and all. Acclimation process with stars was not greatest, however they been in tank for about 2 weeks. Other stars look fine, heck look at this two having fun today;

[three90s&125sump]

Originally Posted by Doug1

stars are REALLY susceptable to sudden changes in salinity and specific gravity. The workings of their arms are the result of some extremely complicated internal plumbing.
Many are shipped poorly and it often doesnt take long for them to start to disintegrate before your eyes

[DebsSisterFlo]

not to get off topic but I'd love to see some pics of your tank! Another infrequent member has 4 tangs (1 Hippo Tang, 1 Yellow Tang, 1 Powder Blue tang, 1 Naso Tang) along with 16 other fish (yes it works and they're all super healthy) in a 180g... you can see pics of Mike's tank by clicking on the link in my sig... what a plug, I love showing off pics!
I sure hope you can figure out what is happening to your star, but if it's just that one then maybe it's just not healthy. Oh and on that hitchhiker crab, I had a small gorilla crab which I thought had died. I removed it but it turns out that when they molt it does look like they're dead... I was so miffed to see that little bugger a few days later peeking out of its hole... ended up cutting that rock in half to get it out.

[Redemption]

I will take some pics of the tangs tomorrow, they where pigging out when i was triying to save the powder blue as I was feeding them twice a day then. Now they are back to once a day feeding.


I placed the injured star in my sons nano lets see what happens!


Debsisterflo,

Here are my lates pics of the tank, http://www.thereeftank.com/forums/sh...t=65882&page=2

[Doug1]

It may be that the affected one was not healthy to begin with, and its catching up with it now.
One of the symptoms of the malfunction that I was describing is that due to critical osmoregulation required for motility , changes beyond the animals ability to cope cause cell damage similar to bad decompression. mega tissue damage , usually followed by secondary infections
Hopefully it will be OK but at this point I would be surprised

[Redemption]

Originally Posted by Doug1

It may be that the affected one was not healthy to begin with, and its catching up with it now.
One of the symptoms of the malfunction that I was describing is that due to critical osmoregulation required for motility , changes beyond the animals ability to cope cause cell damage similar to bad decompression. mega tissue damage , usually followed by secondary infections
Hopefully it will be OK but at this point I would be surprised

Ouch! Will keep you guys posted.

[Doug1]

Originally Posted by DebsSisterFlo

not to get off topic but I'd love to see some pics of your tank! Another infrequent member has 4 tangs (1 Hippo Tang, 1 Yellow Tang, 1 Powder Blue tang, 1 Naso Tang) along with 16 other fish (yes it works and they're all super healthy) in a 180g... you can see pics of Mike's tank by clicking on the link in my sig... what a plug, I love showing off pics!
I sure hope you can figure out what is happening to your star, but if it's just that one then maybe it's just not healthy. Oh and on that hitchhiker crab, I had a small gorilla crab which I thought had died. I removed it but it turns out that when they molt it does look like they're dead... I was so miffed to see that little bugger a few days later peeking out of its hole... ended up cutting that rock in half to get it out.

Of the 4 tangs listed the yellow will be the smallest if it attains adulthood, The Leucosternon is problematic and difficult at best, adult size is around 12" The Hippo and Naso tangs will grow over 12", IME a 180 isn't big enough, let alone with 16 other fish .
If he's getting away with this at the moment, good luck, I seriously don't expect the good times to last indefinatly, but I am concerned theat newbs read stuff like this and think its ok. I have no idea the size fish or your friends level of experience but I fear that someone who shouldnt will try this at home

(steps off soapbox)

[ChrisPrusha]

I never had gravity measurred, should I do that tomorrow?

I would measure it weekly, right after you do a water change.

[three90s&125sump]

I measure my SG once or twice per day. There are alot of things that can cause a fluctuation in it. Maybe your tank is simpler than mine, if you have no sump with auto top off or what not. On my 40 gallon I check it maybe twice per week but I also don't have a huge skimmer that can take the salt out of the water or an auto top off on it.