Help! Starfish losing legs!

Mrspit66 · #1 10/01/2002, 09:51 PM

I've got a starfish that's losing his legs. He's a red serpent star, red reef star. My readings are ok; touch of ammonia; .1; no nitrites; nitrates are 5; pH 8.3 - 8.4 near as I can tell. Anyway, I noticed he wasn't acting right last night and he didn't eat anything. This morning, I started seeing pieces of his legs in the sand. Other inhabitants are 2 peppermint shrimp, 1 cleaner shrimp, feather duster, 2 emerald crabs, Yellow Tang,
Royal Gramma, Tuxedo urchin, 4 cone snails and one lone turbo snail. In the last couple of days, I've also lost 4 turbo snails. otherwise, everybody acts just fine. Shrimps and crabs are fine. One thing I'm thinking is I did have an algae problem I couldn't get fixed, so I added AlgaeFix, which is SUPPOSED to be safe for marine inverts, etc. Don't know if one has anything to do with the other. Anyway, any suggestions for my poor star? I know his legs can grow back. I'm just worried about why he's losing them in the first place!!

Thanks!
Cathy

Miller357 · #2 10/01/2002, 11:47 PM

Cathy,

First, I would use any fix that came in a bottle! Algae blooms are typical directly related to some condition in the tank (Have you checked for Phosphates?). The magic bottle is just like sweeping the dirt under the carpet. Anyway, my experience with star fish loosing legs... some one is getting a late night snack

I would take a look at those emerald crabs and make sure you didn't get one that is different type of critter. (Check for pinchers instead of suction cup grippers)

teknopanda · #3 10/02/2002, 01:38 AM

it might be osmotic shock. basically caused by a change in pH and water conditions, compared to the water it was shipped in or acclimated in originally.

happened to me too when saltwaterfish.com sent me one on accident when i ordered a regular serpent star (much hardier). by the way they do not honor their guarantees very well. and something always arrived dead when i ordered from them, but never again.

there isn't much u can do bout it, sorry. try transferring some of the legs that have fallen off into quarantine tanks of varying pH and maybe u could save one.