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FAQs about Sea Star Disease/Pests/Injuries/Health 5
Related Articles: Sea Stars,
Brittle Stars,
Asterina Stars,
An Introduction to the Echinoderms: The Sea Stars, Sea
Urchins, Sea Cucumbers and More... By
James W. Fatherree, M.Sc.
Related FAQs:
Seastar Disease 1, Seastar Disease 2,
Star Disease 4, &
CC Star Disease/Health,
Linckia Disease,
Sandsifting Star Disease, &
Sea Stars, Sea Stars 2,
Sea Stars 3, Sea Stars 4,
Sea Stars 5, Brittle Stars,
Seastar Selection, Seastar
Compatibility, Seastar Systems,
Seastar Behavior, Seastar
Feeding, Seastar Reproduction,
Seastar Disease, Asterina
Stars, Chocolate
Chip Stars, Crown of Thorns Stars,
Fromia Stars, Linckia Stars,
Linckia Stars 2, Sand-Sifting Stars, | 
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Chocolate Chip Starfish/Health 9/28/09
Dear Wet Web Media,
<Sally>
I see that you have helped so many people with their aqua lives. It is a
great treasure that we're able to keep these items away from their salty
ocean homes and inside our miniature sewage systems. Thanks for teaching
and helping us clean up after ourselves.
<You're welcome.>
I've run into a predicament. I have a Chocolate Chip Starfish that is
pretty active. She walks around my 80 gallon FOWLR tank, and I've kept
her happy for a couple of months. However, a spot has developed on her
backside. I am guessing it is some type of parasite, although I have no
expertise. She still eats fine.
My question is, do you know what this cyst is? Is it cancer?
<Do not know at this stage.>
Is it contagious to the other fish in my tank? Did she catch it from the
other fish in my tank?
<Very unlikely on both counts.>
Should I remove her immediately into quarantine?
<I would not.>
Would you recommend that I treat her with any medications?
<Would not treat with any medications, but continue to observe the
starfish along with maintaining regular feedings. These starfish do much
better in systems with high water quality. Do concentrate on this
aspect. Poor water quality could lead to a heterotrophic bacterial
infection, and this could be a possibility.
Dosing weekly with an iodine supplement may be beneficial in this
regard.
Do read here for more information.
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/volume_6/volume_6_2/choc.htm>
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Truly yours,
<Mmmm, I don't know if I like that sign off, my last one was love and
kisses too:)
James (Salty Dog)>
Sally
Re Chocolate Chip Starfish/Health 9/29/09
Thanks so much James (Salty Dog ??)~~~!!
With love, and a kiss on the cheek :*
<You're welcome, Sally, and thanks for the smooch:) James (Salty Dog)>
Sally
Chocolate Chip (pic attached); Marco's go - 09/29/09
Dear Wet Web Media,
<Hi Sally. I'm adding some small notes to James' answer.>
I see that you have helped so many people with their aqua lives. It is a
great treasure that we're able to keep these items away from their salty
ocean homes and inside our miniature sewage systems. Thanks for teaching and
helping us clean up after ourselves.
I've run into a predicament. I have a Chocolate Chip Starfish that is pretty
active. She walks around my 80 gallon FOWLR tank, and I've kept her happy
for a couple of months. However, a spot has developed on her backside.
<I bet this spot was there all time long.>
I am guessing it is some type of parasite, although I have no expertise.
She still eats fine.
My question is, do you know what this cyst is?
<Yes.>
Is it cancer?
<No.>
Is it contagious to the other fish in my tank?
<No.>
Did she catch it from the other fish in my tank?
<No.>
Should I remove her immediately into quarantine?
<No.>
Would you recommend that I treat her with any medications?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Truly yours, Sally.
<What you photographed so nicely is the so called madreporite, a starfish
organ. You'll find it briefly explained and also illustrated in the article
James linked you to. This is no sign of a disease. Cheers. Marco.>
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Madreporite |
Injured Starfish: Starfish
Injury\health. 9/22/2009
Hi Crew..
<Hi Jennifer.>
Got an emergency..looked through the website but couldn't find anything
on an injured starfish.
My orange Florida Seastar (can't think of technical name) was found
today in the Maxijet pump. He was curled up sucked up in the bottom at
the intake portion of the pump. I turned it off and loosened him from
it. He didn't move for quite a while. I put him in a small Rubbermaid
container and let it float around the tank. After about 45 minutes I
noticed he was moving but he has white stuffing or cobwebs all over him.
<Good that it is moving, the "white stuffing" is not a good sign at
all..>
He is moving but it looks like one of his legs is bent backwards. First
of all what can I do to facilitate recovery and what is the prognosis?
<Time and excellent water quality.>
Should I put him in the refugium (it has liverock)?
<Certainly could not hurt.>
The tank is about 3 years old, I've had him for 1 1/2 years.
<Have a read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/seastarfaq5.htm >
Thanks! Jennifer
<My pleasure, MikeV>
Re: Injured Starfish: Starfish Injury\health. 9/23/2009
Thanks Mike.
<Hi Jennifer.>
.I put him in the refugium last night and is doing a lot of moving
around the tank.
<A very good sign.>
He ate a little last night. Is there anything I can put on
him..antibiotics or anything to help him heal?
<As long as it is moving around, eating, and not showing any signs of
getting worse, I would leave him be for now.>
Thanks again! Jennifer
<My pleasure, MikeV>
Re: Injured Starfish: Starfish Injury\health: Recovery\great
news. 9/24/2009
Mike,
<Hi Jennifer.>
He's looking great! He's eating and moving and even the white cottony
stuff is gone.
<Excellent News!>
I think the crabs may have helped out on that front.
<Possibly. You should take some credit. Keeping a Seastar for over 1.5
years is no small accomplishment.>
Thanks for all of your help!
<My pleasure as always.>
Jennifer
<MikeV>
Red Starfish Health 1/19/09 Hi there. <Hello Wendy> I
have purchased a small red seastar. I knew when I bought it that I may
have a challenge on my hands but thought it so bright and cheery it was
worth the risk. I have not owned a seastar before. <Since you didn't
provide a name or pic, I will assume it is a Red Linckia starfish.>
<<Mmmm... I wouldn't assume this... refer this person to the site for
ID. RMF>> I have been running my tank for 8 months. All the water
parameters are fine and I have been pleased with my general coral
wellbeing (they are all getting bigger and show beautifully!). I have
about 50kg live rock, 3 tank reared clowns, 3 tank reared Blue Damsels,
a sweet scooter dragonet (he is so funny and likes to be hand fed),
snails, red and blue hermit crabs and 4 Peppermint Shrimp. I feed
Cyclop-eeze, live brine shrimp and Salifert coral food. My tank is 3.5'l
x2'w x2.5'h, with 2 Fluval 305 canister filters with carbon, ceramic and
phosphate remover, a skimmer and 4 x 39wT5 (1 x blue, 3 x white), 9w uv
filter, 2 power heads, a top up <off> unit and a small fan. I do a 10l
water change (using RO filtered water) every over other day as I believe
that this will be less stressful on the animals within the tank than a
larger weekly or fortnightly change. I drip acclimatised the seastar
for around 4.5 hours by putting a pinprick below the waterline in his
bag and allowing his water to equalize with my tank very slowly (I have
done this for all the animals I have purchased). He was not exposed
to the air. Unfortunately I forgot to ask the LFS how long they had been
in possession of him. The upshot is that one leg is slowly rotting away.
I have read this can happen due to stress. <I'm guessing this
starfish was badly shipped, exposed to air and/or harsh changes in water
parameters which can cause necrosis of the legs and/or the entire body
of which you are observing. Linckia starfish are generally a hardy
species providing they are shipped well, and once acclimated and
feeding, should live a few years.> <<Linckia stars are NOT typically
hardy... actually Asteroids period don't last in hobby set-ups... RMF>>
However what I would like to know please is whether this rotting may
stop and I should just watch him and hope he will recover on his own or
whether I should try and cut off the leg and hope that all will be OK
and, if so, how I should go about this? <Mmm, leave the scissors in
the drawer, better to maintain good water quality and hand feed the star
with pieces of clam meat and hope for a recovery. Removing the leg would
be a last resort if the necrosis continues to spread. This can be done
with a razor blade or Exacto knife. If it comes to doing this, remove
the starfish in a shallow container, remove the leg, and place the
starfish back into the tank.> <<This won't work... RMF>> I have
read other threads where this is advocated but they seem to be about
animals in a much worse state than mine (he is happily moving around my
tank and feeding at the moment) and I am worried about causing him more
stress than he has already been subjected to. <Yes, and do read here
and related articles/FAQ's above.
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/linckiastars.htm> I would be grateful for
your advice. Kind regards <You're welcome. James (Salty Dog)>
Wendy Re: James...
not good input, Seastar hlth. 01/19/09 Yep, I thought
about it after I sent. Although I have had good luck with them, they are
not the easiest to keep, requiring hand feeding to insure their food
requirements are met. Originally I thought of omitting the cutting
completely as once necrosis sets in, chances of recovery are poor.
Bad judgment on my part. I need to put myself more in the mindset of the
people writing. J <Yes my friend. B>
Starfish, hlth., reading 6/3/08 Good morning Crew, I
recently bought a Red General starfish <Not generally an aquarium
hardy species...> for our 125 gal. FO tank. He seems to be doing
well, but I noticed an orange film starting to cover one side of
him. It almost looks like algae. <Bad> You can see it more on
the grey parts of him, but the bright red parts mask it. Question is
does he have some kind of disease or something harmful growing on
him. Have you seen this in General Starfish before? The tank also
has an Orange Linckia, <Also not generally hardy> Snowflake
Eel, Panther Grouper, 3 Damsels, and a Lawnmower Blenny. <Please
read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/marind5_5.htm toward the
bottom... Asteroid health, systems... Bob Fenner>
Picture of General Star Sorry, I meant to send this with the
e-mail about the orange stuff. <Mmm, actually, have seen this
"stuff" in the wild as well... let's hope this is not deleterious.
Cheers, Bob Fenner> | 
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Red Knob Seastar, hlth. using WWM 5/22/08
Last week my Red Knob seastar looked like it almost had a large zit on
it. It is located on the side/underside. It then proceeded to bust open
and this white/light orange thing came out and hung there for about a
day. <Bad...> The thing that busted out of him like some alien is
left in the sand where he was at and it is a very hard, tooth-like
consistently about an 1/8th of an inch to an 1/8 of an inch. The hole in
which has left on my seastar is more like a 1/4 of an inch. Now this
didn't happen just once but numerous time over the last week. Needless
to say my starfish has a bunch of holes in him and leaving these teeth
like things around the tank. When I first bought my seastar he roamed
all around the tank. Then for about a week he just laid in the same
vicinity. Now he is moving around the tank again but he doesn't look
good. He looks sunken in and one of his legs might fall off. I brought
pictures of him and the pieces of tooth like substance to my aquarium
people and they have no idea. They made some phone calls but no one
seems to know. What can I do for my poor little guy. He has been eating
1 krill about every four days...sometimes 1 in between. Is there
anything I can add to the tank to help him? Thanks, Rob <....
please... follow directions... search, read on WWM before writing... Do
take a read there re Asteroid-Seastar health... this is a difficult
species to care for in small captive systems... Yours is on its
proverbial way out health wise. Bob Fenner>
Sick Seastar – 5/3/08 Hi, <Hello> I read through the other
emails, but I have a little different situation. I am the lab manager at
a community college and our science department recently received a 125
gal aquarium that was donated by a retiring instructor. I know noting
about salt or fresh water aquariums but am learning very quickly (he at
least left me a book). It was moved from his office to our lab and I
know that stressed all in the tank. I have finally gotten it balanced,
pH, ammonia, nitrite, a nitrate are all where they should be. The
specific gravity is 1.025. The problem is Patrick our cc starfish.
<Shades of Squarepants!> When I got him he had a small white spot on
the tip of one of his legs. Not having seen him before, I thought it was
normal, but it has continued to spread and he holds that leg up all the
time. That's when I started looking for help on the web and found this
site. We don't have a hospital to move him to. Patrick is about 2 years
old and we are all very fond of him. What can I do to save him? Can I
cut that part of his leg off (I don't want to do that)? Please help!!!!
Theresa <It might be the best route to go (to excise the bad leg...
try a bath with a Furan compound, administer iodine/ate (Lugol's) to the
system... Please read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/stardisfaqs.htm
and the linked files above for more input here. Bob Fenner>
I’m clueless - ID needed: Egg Ribbon – 3/18/08 Hello! <Hi
there, Sonny!> Hope you can help me to identify this creature.
<Sure hope so!> I set up a nano reef tank about 7 month ago. I am
into the hobby about 9 years now. All my water parameters (including
Mg, Ca, Sr..etc..) are close to perfect. I keep my temperature at
78-80 degrees. 15-17 lbs of live rock, 20 lbs of aragonite,
Marineland C-160 canister, Hydor Koralia Nano powerhead, AquaC
Remora Nano skimmer with MJ 900. Current Satellite light system, 1
dual actinic and 1 dual daylight, 40 W each, 80 Watts all together,
set up with a timer. Only 8 hours daylight. 1 small colt coral, 1
green eyed and 1 yellow polyps, trumpet coral. 1 six line wrasse,
about a dozen hermits, about the same amounts of assorted snails. 1
sand shifter <Sifter?> star, 1 red thorny star, <Uh-oh, these two
stars need much, much, more room in order to survive. They will not
make it in a small tank.> ..and 1 cleaner shrimp. Very happy and
healthy environment. Yesterday I noticed something on one of my live
rock, something I never seen before. If you look at the picture the
creature is right above my fish, and it looks like a target.
<Nice photo!> Round shaped, and has circles inside.. The color is
kinda clear whitish...Please help me identify this new critter for
me! <Hmmm, it looks like an egg ribbon, possibly left by a
Nudibranch or snail. No worries, these things pop up from time to
time and usually disappear within a few days - as food for the
system’s inhabitants! Please see these links for examples of
Nudibranch egg ribbons:
http://www.seaslugforum.net/display.cfm?id=1128
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/nudireprofaqs.htm> Your help is truly
appreciated, Sonny <You're very welcome! Take care, -Lynn>
Re: I’m clueless - ID needed: Egg Ribbon – 3/18/08 Thank you
very much Lynn! <You're very welcome, Sonny!> I forgot to
mention this is a 10G tank. <Yep, I had a feeling it was when you
mentioned the light fixture, but didn’t want to assume.> I also
forgot that I just introduced a lettuce Nudibranch (beautiful
creature, I never had one before) about a week ago, so I suppose
he's the source of those eggs. <You got it!> The sand sifter
looks very happy, I don't see him too much though.
<Unfortunately, these need a large area of mature DSB to survive.>
The red thorny star is not the African red knob sea star, but I'm
sure you knew that. <Well, I wasn’t sure if it was Protoreaster
lincki or Echinaster echinophorus, but unfortunately, neither is
suitable for this size tank.> When I purchased him (I bought him
and the Nudibranch at the same time) they told me they won't grow
bigger than 3-4 inches. <Yes, although I’ve read differing
reports on their size (ranging from 4-8”). Most say it’s around 4”,
so I’d be more inclined to go with that number.> Should I take
him back? <Yes, actually I’d take both of those stars back.
They’ll starve to death in such a small system.> He seems
healthy. My only concern is that ever since I introduced him to my
tank, he's not moving a lot. Looks like he settled down on one of my
live rock, and he's been there ever since. I see him moving his
tentacles and arms, but he just "sits" there. I don't know.. He's
beautiful bright red and orange color.. Any thoughts? <Yep, if
he’s been in the same place for a week, that’s not good. Even if he
was doing well though, I would still recommend taking him back.>
My heavenly Nudibranch is all over the place, grazing for algaes all
day. Actually I don't have too much of nuisance algaes of any kind
anymore, is there any supplement I can use if unfortunately ( I can
believe I said that:-) I run out of algaes? <Hmmm, you could try
Nori, but I’m not too confident that it will be eaten. These sea
slugs are nothing if not picky little eaters! They tend to like one
particular algae and that’s it. Some like Bryopsis, others eat
Caulerpa, etc. Sadly, they’re usually short-lived in aquariums.>
Again, thank you very much for the infos and those great articles, I
think you made my night much better. <You’re very welcome. I’m
sorry to be the bearer of bad news about the stars, but they really
do need to be in a much larger system.> If you have chance Lynn,
please let Anthony know that He rule the saltwater world.. By any
means, He is the greatest. <Hey, what about Bob! I say he’s the
greatest! :-) Sorry, but I can't help being partial. LOL I just
couldn't let that go without saying something! I’ve never met
Anthony Calfo but he does seem like a terrific guy – knowledgeable,
funny and kind. I’m hoping to meet him at IMAC in May. At that time,
I would be most happy to relay your message!> Thank you Lynn,
good night <You’re most welcome, Sonny. Goodnight to you too,
-Lynn> | 
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Indian sea star has been attacked... reading – 1/04/08
hello WWM <Charles> I'm a novice in marine aquaria but seem to be
doing quite well so far I have a nano reef aquarium, 58 litres.
<Okay> I have 1 yellow tailed damsel, 1 humbug damsel, 1 blue damsel,
<A poor mix of Pomacentrids in such a small volume> 1 banded coral
shrimp, 1 red legged hermit, 1 blue legged hermit, 1 purple coral
<What is this? Specifically> and until this evening (3rd Jan 2008) 1
Indian sea star. <A Fromia indica... or Fromia sp. at least, likely>
Now this is what my email regards I came home from work yesterday to
find my sea star clinging to the spray bar with two lesions in two of
its legs. I kept an eye on it for a while and it seemed to be moving
around, slowly, but moving. Later that evening I checked up on it and
one of its legs was missing and part of it on the sand at this point it
was on the live rock and the closest animal to it was the blue legged
hermit (which, may I add, I think is something else as it has black and
blue legs rather than red and blue) but it wasn't attacking it at that
point, although I assumed, that having powerful pincers, this was the
culprit so I isolated it over night. <Mmm> In the morning the sea
star was in the same condition but alive, then when I came home it was
life less on the sand missing 3 whole legs an 1 badly damaged I think it
is dead now as it hasn't moved at all. As the blue hermit was isolated
and the red legged hermit is tiny I passed the blame onto the shrimp. I
liked the sea star and it was the first animal in the tank and it was
thriving I don't believe that water parameters are culprit, or
reproduction, as there is nothing left of the legs. Can you help me with
this, could the shrimp be culprit or maybe the damsels. <Yes, either
could be... or no culprit/predator at all> Also is this common as I
want to get a new sea star but don't want a repeat episode. I thank
you in advance for any advice you can give me. Regards Charlie
<Please read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/marind5_5.htm Toward the
bottom... on Seastar Disease, Fromias... Bob Fenner>
Decomposing Starfish... What is: Things I wouldn't keep in my reef
tank... 12/31/2007 <Greetings! Mich here, apologizing for the
very long delay.> I seem to have a problem with decomposing starfish.
<Unfortunately, not an uncommon problem.> I have a 72-gallon tank
that has been set up for about 9 months. It has cycled very well, and
has wonderful coralline algae growth. I have maybe about 20 pounds of
live rock, <I would consider adding more.> along with a Firefish
goby, coral beauty angel, blue damsel, royal Gramma Basslet, and tomato
clown. As far as non-fish goes, I have a tomato anemone, <Tomato
Anemone?> trumpet coral, a pulsing xenia coral, and an orange sponge.
<I personally would not keep the sponge... I have had such sponges up
and die and take many tankmates along for the ride...> I had a
chocolate chip star in the tank for about 6 months, then about 2 weeks
ago I noticed that it had a few white spots on its top. I immediately
feared the worst and put it in my 10-gallon hospital tank. <Hope you
also use it to QT as well! Some reasons to here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/QuarMarFishes.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/quarinverts.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/volume_3/cav3i4/quarantine/Quarantine.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/quaranti.htm > By the next day, all 5 legs
were decomposing with large white chunks falling off, <Nasty!> yet
the poor thing was still alive, and by the next morning it was dead.
<I'm sorry for your loss.> I looked at my fish very carefully and
none of them showed any signs of anything, so I figured that perhaps the
starfish got a small cut and got infected, as starfish tend to do.
<A possibility.> I left my tank alone for about a week and a half and
continued to keep an eye on my fish. They still showed no signs of any
sort of disease, <Good.> so 3 days ago I bought a blue Palau
starfish. The first day was fine, the second day it looked a little
cloudy so I immediately separated it. This morning I found it dead and
halfway decomposed, all of the blue flaking off. I'm at a complete loss
of anything that would cause this. Please help! <Most starfish
brought into the aquarium industry are doomed. They are very sensitive
to osmotic changes, such as variations in salinity, and often die from
osmotic shock. Starfish generally don't do well in captivity as the
diets of most species are poorly understood, if known at all. I would
highly discourage from purchasing any more starfish... IMO A red brittle
star (Ophioderma squamosissimum) would be a similar but much better
choice. Red brittle stars generally fair well in captivity, are good
scavengers and unlike the green brittle star (Ophiarachna incrassata),
are not predatory on fish. Cheers! Mich>
Dying Starfish 12/20/07 I have a 60 gallon tank and yesterday I
can home and noticed my Red African Starfish had bites taken out of it I
rushed to the fish store where I had bought it they said that they have
know clue as the what caused it because all of our fish seem to be fine
with starfish. Since The pet store wouldn't take it they suggested we
put them in breeder tanks that's float on top of the water, since it was
still alive and would just grow back, this morning I woke up to find my
starfish in the same spot and looks like he is decaying the its looks
like mush can you please tell me what's going on? <Unfortunately,
many of these types of star fish are just very difficult to care for.
Too little is known about them and what they need in captivity. I wish I
could help you, but the reality is that we just don't know. It could be
starving to death, but that's just a guess. In any case, I doubt there's
much you can do to help it. However, to give it any chance at all, I'd
take it out of the floating breeder and put it back in the tank (or
better yet, in a refugium if you have one).> Ashley Davis <Best,
Sara M.>
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