sick starfish

[scooterboy]

Hi,
I've got a problem with my sand sifting starfish, it keeps losing bits. I've recently noticed it has lost a bit off a leg and has what appears to be a bite mark on another . The thing is that along with 3 hermit crabs this is the only occupant that i have put in the tank because it is still maturing . When i put the rock in a few weeks ago there appeared to be a shrimp in one of the holes but i've not seen it since ,only a bit of its shell lying on the tank botom. I had assumed it had died.I've sen pictures of mantis shrimps and it wasn't one of those. There is a nocturnal crab in the tank as well but it is really small and i've seen it grazing on algae so i dont think that's the culprit can anyone help please

 

[Navarre]

When Starfish are dying they will fall apart and disintergrate (literally).

Your starfish is probably not the victim of an attack, its probbly dying due to problems during acclimatisation. They need very slow introductions to the tanka and this can mean up to 2 or 3 hours.

 

[scooterboy]

ARGHHH!!
I've been reading some ot the other threads on this subject and i think your right. I only acclimatised the star fish for about 1/2 an hour. I wish i had read more about them before i bought it . I take it there is nohing i can do to help. I feel terrible that my lack of knowledge has led to one of my animals dying. I've learned a good lesson but i'm not please that it has been this way. I asked at the lfs about the star fish and no one said there had to been this sort of acclimatisation period. Another lesson learned .B******s !!!!!

 

[Navarre]

Sadly there is very little that can be done now. Just watch it closely and perhaps it might recover, its rare for this to happen but i have seen this done. Sand sifters are very hardy, much more hardy than other starfish so if any are going to survive then this species is best suited for it.

 

[scooterboy]

I've been watching him pretty closely now for the past few days and he does'nt seem to be getting any worse. In fact if anything he looks to be recovering . Is this just false hope cause if this little critter pulls through i'm going to have to name him. And because he's such a tough wee guy i'm thinking RAMBO. Come on the the wee guy!!