What in the world??
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Help
Forum Name: EMERGENCY FORUM
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URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=44804
Printed Date: November 21 2024 at 5:14pm
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Topic: What in the world??
Posted By: bstuver
Subject: What in the world??
Date Posted: November 18 2010 at 2:25pm
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I looked in my tank today and noticed that my brittle starfish didn't look right so after a bit of a fight I finally got him out and here is what I am talking about:   
------------- Jackie Stuver "wait these aren't the happy Hawaiians oompa doompa godly heaven on your face zoas? I dont want them then. lol!" Ksmart |
Replies:
Posted By: ptronsp
Date Posted: November 18 2010 at 2:44pm
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Oh Jackie.. that is sick. I hope they can help you decide what it is.. that is terrible! Pam |
Posted By: bstuver
Date Posted: November 18 2010 at 3:10pm
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I know I am wondering if there is something picking on it or what it is nasty!
------------- Jackie Stuver "wait these aren't the happy Hawaiians oompa doompa godly heaven on your face zoas? I dont want them then. lol!" Ksmart |
Posted By: Luckedout
Date Posted: November 18 2010 at 3:24pm
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I surprised you saw that.. I never see my brittle or serpent starfish in my tank....
------------- -Ben 90g Mixed reef www.body-balancechiropractic.com |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: November 18 2010 at 3:29pm
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Where is it now?
------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
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Posted By: SGH360
Date Posted: November 18 2010 at 3:58pm
| that is a cool brittle starfis looks like something is eating it |
Posted By: dons
Date Posted: November 18 2010 at 4:07pm
| Is it getting ready to split? At the reef show they talked about that was how they reproduce, they split through the disk. |
Posted By: bstuver
Date Posted: November 18 2010 at 5:51pm
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It is in a bowl right now as I didn't know if it had something, I see both my large guys when I feed my tank:) I will look into splitting maybe it could be it is all the way through it. ------------- Jackie Stuver "wait these aren't the happy Hawaiians oompa doompa godly heaven on your face zoas? I dont want them then. lol!" Ksmart |
Posted By: davser
Date Posted: November 18 2010 at 6:28pm
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i dont know about spliting it looks like something is eating it ------------- It's not about what you know but about who you know |
Posted By: Dion Richins
Date Posted: November 18 2010 at 6:45pm
Thats what it looks like to me. ------------- http://www.customaquariumfurniture.com" rel="nofollow - Bad "censored" Cabinets Best quality in the valley! He is one sexy bald guy, even with out a finger!(MAC) |
davser wrote:Posted By: bstuver
Date Posted: November 18 2010 at 6:52pm
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So on reef2reef someone suggested necrosis? I checked my params and my alk was way low! So I would guess my PH probably is too which I guess can cause necrosis?
------------- Jackie Stuver "wait these aren't the happy Hawaiians oompa doompa godly heaven on your face zoas? I dont want them then. lol!" Ksmart |
Posted By: Luckedout
Date Posted: November 18 2010 at 7:04pm
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It could make the situation worse. I don't know if it would be the sole cause. I would lean more toward something trying to eat it or an infection due to injury.
------------- -Ben 90g Mixed reef www.body-balancechiropractic.com |
Posted By: bstuver
Date Posted: November 18 2010 at 7:11pm
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Yea he was completely healthy less than 10 days ago when I put him in. I think I will put him in my sump until he heals so no one can pick on him. I'm not sure who would be doing the picking though:(
------------- Jackie Stuver "wait these aren't the happy Hawaiians oompa doompa godly heaven on your face zoas? I dont want them then. lol!" Ksmart |
Posted By: kellerexpress
Date Posted: November 19 2010 at 12:29am
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Thats crazy looking, keep us updated ------------- IM 30L Kessil A160we x2 |
Posted By: Jeffs_little_ocean
Date Posted: November 19 2010 at 8:20am
------------- Life is good....right? |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: November 19 2010 at 8:30am
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- The Star is new to the tank so we don't know what kind of stress and poor handling occurred in transit or what appearance/evidence of problems it may have had at the point of purchase. - The Star was introduced into a tank that has "way low" Alkalinity and pH (actual #'s ?); two parameters that are more damaging to Echinoderms than anything else. - The Star was forcibly removed from it's mess of a new home and placed in a bowl, simply accelerating further damage and deterioration. - Everyone here thinks that something is eating the Star, while another MB came up with the idea of necrosis due to unknown cause. This is all very sad to me.  This club's purpose is to promote education and responsible reefkeeping. It makes me think very hard about what I know and what I am doing. ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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Posted By: CapnMorgan
Date Posted: November 19 2010 at 9:13am
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Looks exactly like necrosis to me. How low was your alk? If it was low then you are correct in assuming your pH would be too. If you can post some number it would help. Mark is correct in saying that alk and pH affect echinoderms in big ways. I think we can chalk up more fatalities to water chemistry than starvation or other causes, especially in starfish. I would almost be tempted to do an antiseptic dip with something similar to melafix to try and keep it disinfected. Keep us posted on how it's doing, harlequin serpent stars are really cool; hopefully it'll pull through. ------------- Steve http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=40637&PID=356246" rel="nofollow - My Old 180G Mixed Reef Currently: 120G Wavefront Mixed 29G Seahorse & Softies Running ReefAngel Plus x2 435-8 |
Posted By: Shane H
Date Posted: November 19 2010 at 9:19am
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Mark - don't be sad. I think this thread is a great example of promoting education and responsible reef keeping. We all learn when this type of thing is posted. I have kept a lot of sea stars over the years and I've never seen this exact thing happen before - I have no idea what it is, but my initial thought it was either an bacteria caused infection or a deterioration caused by ???? . Most of the deaths I have had go completely unresolved. When we can see symptoms and discuss possible causes - we all learn what to avoid. |
Posted By: bstuver
Date Posted: November 19 2010 at 9:28am
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The starfish came with the red sea max I purchased so I did not buy him. If fact I haven't purchased any starfish as I haven't read up on them fully so please do not assume I was irresponsible in purchasing him. The tank was finished moving all that I kept over to it about 10 days ago. Unfortunately life has happened I completely forgot that I hadn't checked my params. The alk was extremely low I don't have it handy right this minute but I will post it later.
------------- Jackie Stuver "wait these aren't the happy Hawaiians oompa doompa godly heaven on your face zoas? I dont want them then. lol!" Ksmart |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: November 19 2010 at 9:32am
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Exactly. That's why I'm sad. That a hobbyist coming here would have such a problem and we have no idea what it is. I may think I know a lot, but I don't. I saw this thread soon after she posted. Not knowing what was causing the deterioration, I chose to wait and see. Of course once this starts, fish might pick at it, Hermits and Bristleworms will definitely smell it and search it out. The bigger questions are how did it begin in the first place and what is the best course to promote recovery? From what little I know, I believe Steve has hit the nail right on the head. Edit> Jackie, I know that you care. I didn't mean any disrespect, though my words are often poorly chosen. I'll bet this Star was actually having problems before the tank came to your house. It may likely heal as you give it and the tank the TLC you are known for.  ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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Posted By: bstuver
Date Posted: November 19 2010 at 9:39am
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I placed him in my sump so that no one can pick on him, I will see if I can find him again and do a dip. Do I just place him in a bowl with some tank water and a bit of melafix? How much melafix to tank water? I am glad I saw him, however it could have been in the process of already happening as the tank was not taken care of very well and then add on top the alk being so low:( I feel awful as he is so cool and I hate to see any animal suffer. I am slowly raising my alk as well. ------------- Jackie Stuver "wait these aren't the happy Hawaiians oompa doompa godly heaven on your face zoas? I dont want them then. lol!" Ksmart |
Posted By: bstuver
Date Posted: November 19 2010 at 9:41am
Sorry Mark I have had a rough week and I took that to heart I try to do as much research as I can before I purchase anything
------------- Jackie Stuver "wait these aren't the happy Hawaiians oompa doompa godly heaven on your face zoas? I dont want them then. lol!" Ksmart |
Posted By: CapnMorgan
Date Posted: November 19 2010 at 9:46am
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Jackie, I can't remember how much melafix per gallon the instructions say but I would try to stick close to that. Put the star in a large bowl or container and then dose the melafix. Let it sit in the bowl for a good 45min to an hour (but be sure to keep it warm) then return the star to the tank (don't put the dip water back into your tank). I would do this every few days if it were me. I'd also make sure it gets plenty of food to help fight off whatever is causing it.
------------- Steve http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=40637&PID=356246" rel="nofollow - My Old 180G Mixed Reef Currently: 120G Wavefront Mixed 29G Seahorse & Softies Running ReefAngel Plus x2 435-8 |
Posted By: bstuver
Date Posted: November 19 2010 at 9:47am
Sounds good thank you:) ------------- Jackie Stuver "wait these aren't the happy Hawaiians oompa doompa godly heaven on your face zoas? I dont want them then. lol!" Ksmart |
Posted By: bstuver
Date Posted: November 21 2010 at 1:21pm
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So the starfish is looking better I have done a couple treatments and he is residing in the sump to heal:)
------------- Jackie Stuver "wait these aren't the happy Hawaiians oompa doompa godly heaven on your face zoas? I dont want them then. lol!" Ksmart |
Posted By: jaschall
Date Posted: November 21 2010 at 1:28pm
| Could of this happend when you moved the tank. It kinda looks like it might of got crushed under a rock and now has a scab. |
Posted By: bstuver
Date Posted: November 21 2010 at 1:31pm
Not that I know of I placed him in the tank myself and he looked fine, so I doubt it. I think my alk being so low may have started it and then he continued to get it picked on probably by the hermits and shrimp in the tank. ------------- Jackie Stuver "wait these aren't the happy Hawaiians oompa doompa godly heaven on your face zoas? I dont want them then. lol!" Ksmart |