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FAQs about Green Brittlestars, Ophiarachna
incrassata Systems Related Articles: Brittlestars, Sea
Stars, An Introduction to the
Echinoderms: The Sea Stars, Sea Urchins, Sea Cucumbers and
More... By James W. Fatherree, M.Sc.
Related FAQs: Green Brittlestars
1, Green Brittlestars 2, & FAQs on:
Green Brittlestars Identification,
Green Brittlestars Behavior,
Green Brittlestars Compatibility,
Green Brittlestars Selection,
Green Brittlestars Feeding,
Green
Brittlestars Disease, Green Brittlestars Reproduction,
& Brittlestars 1, Brittlestars
2, Brittlestars
3, & Brittlestar ID, Brittlestar
Behavior, Brittlestar Compatibility,
Brittlestar Selection, Brittlestar
Systems, Brittlestar Feeding,
Brittlestar Disease, Brittlestar
Reproduction, & Seastar
Selection, Seastar Compatibility, Seastar
Systems, Seastar Feeding, Seastar
Reproduction, Seastar Disease,
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Green Brittle Star 9/30/05
Hi, recently I bought a green brittle starfish last week on Tuesday. The pet
store had a display tank which they took down and put in separate tanks to be
sold. The brittle starfish I bought was from that display tank.
<The most
common cause of problems with these animals is shipping stress. If this animal
was already established in captivity, then it has to be something else...>
My point is that now my starfish is like eating it's legs or something of the
sort. It's folding it's legs under him and I don't know if he's just cutting
them off or eating them (maybe both -.- ). Is he doing this because he's
stressed from all the moving around or what?
<Most likely, yes. These animals
are very sensitive to changes in salinity and pH. It is most often recommended
to acclimate them to a new tank over several hours and many folks actually use a
"drip method" where a piece of airline with a loose knot is used to drip tank
water into the bag water at a rate of one drop per second or so.>
One more thing, my dad also moved the starfish from one side of the tank to the
other because we were afraid it was going after the damsels since he was in
their hiding place. Since we moved him, I feel he has been depressed or
something. They told us to feed him once a month. Is he just hungry? I hope
you can help,
I really don't want him to die.
<Usually, when these animals start losing arms,
they are doomed. If it does recover, I would suggest small weekly feedings. I
would also watch it carefully for signs of predatory behavior, as they are quite
capable of capturing fish. Best Regards. AdamC.>
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Green Brittle Star part 2 10/3/05
Hi again, Thx for taking time out of your day to help me out. I
have one more question, that I didn't think about asking. =P Since this
is happening to my starfish, do I have to take him out of the
tank? Will he get the other fish sick since he is sick? <When it
becomes clear that it isn't going to survive (it doesn't look good), I
would remove it so that it does not foul the water, but the condition is
not contagious.>
I also attached two pictures of what he looks like now. What is that
white stuff that seems to be oozing out of one of
his arms? Thanks again for taking the time to answer my
questions. <Glad to help! The white stuff is simply dying
tissue. Best Regards. AdamC.> |
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