Red Bali Star .. whats going on!?

[MrMexReefer]

Hello everyone... im pretty new to the hobby, about 4 months. Recently, i got this Red Bali Star... and i acclimated it for my tank with a drip, and put it into my tank after about 2 hours. When i put it into the tank (with my hand) i laid it on a piece of rock, and it has basically stayed there. Im wondering if its doing okay... because my friend had one in his tank, and it moved around a lot, and just kinda died after a couple weeks.

Also, i saw it releasing a milky brownish substance from the madreporite (at least, im guessing thats what it is.. the little hole on the dorsal surface of it..). Is everything okay? its been almost a day, and it still hasent moved, except for some limb curling and minor movements. Any suggestions would help! thanks !!

heres a pic of the invert in question:

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/eclipsedoctor/RedBali001.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

[ophiuroid]

This is a difficult animal to keep, and I hate seeing them sold.

First, acclimation is critical and this was probably too short. What are your specific tank parameters, especially specific gravity? Additionally, the tank should be ideally at least 6 months old before adding such a star.

That being said if your LFS did not acclimate, and few do, then the damage may be done. Acclimation shock sets in within a month, and is characterized by disintegration of the arms tips and just "melting." Staying in one place is not in and of itself bad...just watch the arms for signs of breaking or white patches.

The tank is far too small to have any hope of keeping this star alive long term I am afraid. Even though small, they really need at least 100g - and the LR in it - to stand even a marginal chance of survival. They can not in general be spot fed, and those that do make it through acclimation tend to die in a year to 18 months of starvation. Their small size and bright color makes them popular for nanos but this is most unfortunate.

[MrMexReefer]

Thanks for the info ophiuroid, i wish i would have known that in advance. I know i generally cant believe everything im told by the guys at the LFS, but i figured it was alright. My salinity is about 1.021. You said the tank should be establised for about 6 months, im still fairly new to the hobby, but why 6 months? Is it so that an adequate level of beneficial bacteria have had a chance to colonize or...?

Thanks again for the info Ophi, i'll stay away from these little guys in the future.

[ophiuroid]

Sorry to say, your specific gravity is fatally low for this animal. 1.025-1.026 is needed - and for reef tanks or those with inverts, this is considered the norm.

If you choose to correct that, be sure to do it very slowly, eg by using saltwater to top off instead of fresh.

The reason we look to at least 6 months if not longer, is that there are loads and loads of parameters that are still changing in these tanks as they mature, but we test for very few. In addition, it is time for the hobbyist to also develop skills at keeping the tank stable.

[MrMexReefer]

hey ohpi...

i checked my salinity again with my more accurate hydrometer after your replies, and that one (coral life brand) read 1.024 . Since then, the lil guy has been ALL OVER THE TANK!!!! he seems to be doing fairly well now, but i know you said the shock sets in after about a month. What do you recommend i do about my weekly water changes, and how should i go about trying to keep this little guy addequately fed?

[ophiuroid]

The only solution for feeding is a larger tank and more live rock I am afraid. You can certainly try to spot feed it...leave some algae tied to a rock, put food near the arm tips, etc...but otherwise, live rock is the key in general.

I would personally still slowly raise the specific gravity to 1.025-1.026.

[ralphie16]

The reasoning behinds ophiuroid statements about waitign at least 6 months is twofold. Besides waiting for the bacteria populations to populare the system, you are also waiting for the live rock to mature. After about 6 months you will begin to see your rocks come alive! If you keep parameters in check (especially salinity) the rocks will provide the majority of the food that the star will eat in a home aquarium.

[Ryanqk]

I had one in my 30gl for about 9 months and then one day i noticed he was MIA sad really he was my favorite starfish.