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New Member
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Last Login: 4/12/2008 7:07:34 PM
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| I have a a 55 gallon reef tank. In it I have about 75 pounds of live rock, live sand substrate, a carpet anemone, a big eye squirrel, two damsels, about 20 blue legged hermit crabs, a porcelain crab, a couple mushrooms, and my starfish. I had a Chocolate Chip Star, and a Crimson Star. Remaining is a Bahama Star. The tank has been in operation over a year. All water parameters are good. Fortunately I removed the dead Starfish quickly and the ammonia did not run up. I change the water about every 10 days (20%). I use tap water with a conditioner to remove ammonia, chlorine, etc. Water is prepared a week in advance to the change. I do have a phosphate issue at times because of using tap water. Specific Gravity is 1.024 and PH is 8.4 Everything in the tank appears healthy and normal except for the starfish. The first signs of a problem was when the Chocolate Chip Star started to lose its spots. They faded away rather quickly. He also became more lethargic. Eventually he died. This was about two weeks ago. About four days ago the Crimson Star appeared listless, sitting on the substrate instead of the glass where it normally would wander about. Yesterday, it was dead on the bottom, the Bahama Star on top. Looked like the Bahama Star was attempting to eat it. Today, the Bahama Star is moving about the tank, but it too appears that it is becoming more lethargic with less movement than normal. It keeps one of its legs up most of the time as if it were hurt. Since everything else appears fine, no symptoms of distress on the fish or anemone, I am suspecting that I have a Starfish Plague of some sort. Perhaps a parasite, bacteria or virus? I don't know. Comments, suggestions, experiences that you could share would be appreciated. Not sure how to treat a potentially ailing Starfish. Thanks!!
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Fishkeeping GURU
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Last Login: 10/8/2008 4:09:27 PM
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What are the actual numbers for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate? What have you been feeding them?
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New Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 4/12/2008 7:07:34 PM
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| Ammonia: 0 ppm Nitrite: 0 ppm Nitrate: < 10 ppm They eat defrosted cooked peel and eat shrimp for the most part.
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Fishkeeping GURU
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Last Login: 10/8/2008 4:09:27 PM
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They are quite sensitive to nitrate, but I don't think that amount would be enough to cause this. Still it would no doubt benefit them and your other invertebrates if you were to get the nitrate down, so I recommend trying. It's very strange though...wish I could help more. Good luck, and if I think of anything else I will post.
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New Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 4/12/2008 7:07:34 PM
Posts: 22,
Visits: 251
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They are quite sensitive to nitrate, but I don't think that amount would be enough to cause this. Still it would no doubt benefit them and your other invertebrates if you were to get the nitrate down, so I recommend trying. It's very strange though...wish I could help more. Good luck, and if I think of anything else I will post.
Hailey ...My Nitrates are much less than 10ppm. My test kits lowest reading that it is capable of ascertaining is 10ppm. My test was less than 10ppm, probably under 5ppm so I know Nitrate or water conditioning is not the issue. I suspect that not many are experts on Starfish diseases.  I was not able to really locate anything on the net about them. So far the Bahama Star is doing well, but I did lose the Crimson and Chocolate Chip Star.
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Fishkeeping GURU
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 10/8/2008 4:09:27 PM
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Oh OK. My nitrate kit reads in much smaller increments. The lower the better but it sounds like yours is probably fine. I'm glad your remaining star is still doing alright...hope it makes it.
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