puffy_1234
Member
My choco chip star looks like the ends... not sure what you call it, but I guess the "arms" ... well one if them looks like it it starting to come apart.... any suggestions?
Choco Chip Star problems
- Thread starter puffy_1234
- Start date
dubba-r
Member
Um...its probably not getting enough food to eat. If you can, try and put a piece of seafood like krill under it, especially when they open up (like stand on its arms). Ive had one in my tank for awhile now, though i rarely feed it cause it seems to like munching off the algae in the sand bed.
puffy_1234
Member
Well, my choco starfish isn't looking to great... went to the lfs and talked to them about it, they said that another fish probably starting to peck at it... which could be my puffer... but I think my starfish is on his last days though......
puffy_1234
Member
I've had the choco star for about 4 months now... I feed him brine shimp... the frozen stuff, and I give it to him, because he is usually at the top of the tank... I have a porqupine puffer that was pecking at him, along with my brittle star... he's not looking too great either, along with him not eating right now, and losing his brittles. The puffer bit off a part of each leg on him... I was so mad at that.!!!!! But they are bnoth making a turn for the worse... water conditions are good and all...
But they are bnoth making a turn for the worse... water conditions are good and all...
puffy_1234
Member
Buzz...
I have them seperated right now, but starfish just keeps getting worse, and the choco star's body is getting soft too.... doesn't sound too great... I have the puffer in the q-tank because he has ick right now, and trying to get rid of that
I have them seperated right now, but starfish just keeps getting worse, and the choco star's body is getting soft too.... doesn't sound too great... I have the puffer in the q-tank because he has ick right now, and trying to get rid of that
steamboat1569
Member
Hate to say, but, you really should have researched the puffer more. Starfish are one of a pufferfishes bestest (slang, I really do know how to speak) delicacies. Puffers eat some types of coral, starfish, crabs, snails, hermits, and most inverts. These are it's natural food. It has a mouth like a bird beak, and 10 times more powerful. It will crush a shell in a split second.
You said you have seen the porkpuffer peck at him, and he is getting soft an falling apart. That is what stars do when they are stressed. Imagine being eaten alive, slowly. Echinoderms have the ability to break up into many parts when stressed. But, too much is too much.
You said you have seen the porkpuffer peck at him, and he is getting soft an falling apart. That is what stars do when they are stressed. Imagine being eaten alive, slowly. Echinoderms have the ability to break up into many parts when stressed. But, too much is too much.
puffy_1234
Member
My LFS said it would be okay... I guess I shouldn't always go with what people say, and trust my instincts... I thought that I heard that puffers eat starfish.... I guess whoever told me that was right, and this time my lfs was wrong.... you have any suggestions to saving them, or you think it's just a matter of time before they go?
steamboat1569
Member
Quarantine is best as Buzz said. the way you said the stars are breaking up, is a bad sign though. If you have no other happy home for the stars, and if they live, I would suggest getting rid of either the puffer or the stars. That choice is totally yours.
If you keep the puffer, though, search for things that will be compatible.
If you keep the puffer, though, search for things that will be compatible.
ophiura
Active Member
Frozen brine shrimp is not enough for a chocolate chip star (or most other tank inhabitants). They need something meatier, like what you are feeding the puffer (I hope!). Krill, silversides, clams, etc...put it on top of the food like you were doing.
What kind of brittlestar is it? For most echinoderms, if you just caught them and put them into a q tank without acclimation, that could cause further stress.
Both of these species can recover if they are otherwise healthy and no longer bothered by the puffer. I am not too positive though. Start spot feeding both the CC and the brittlestar. Make sure they get some good food, not just brine. Shrimp pellets are also popular.
Sometimes puffers can be fine with these guys (so some board folks claim), but they are natural predators of seastars, brittlestars, and urchins. It is risky to combine them.
What kind of brittlestar is it? For most echinoderms, if you just caught them and put them into a q tank without acclimation, that could cause further stress.
Both of these species can recover if they are otherwise healthy and no longer bothered by the puffer. I am not too positive though. Start spot feeding both the CC and the brittlestar. Make sure they get some good food, not just brine. Shrimp pellets are also popular.
Sometimes puffers can be fine with these guys (so some board folks claim), but they are natural predators of seastars, brittlestars, and urchins. It is risky to combine them.
puffy_1234
Member
Neither the green brittle star nor the choco star is eating... and the brittle stars legs are falling off... it's only a matter of time I guess befire it dies He's still moving around the tank but with little legs... as for the choco star, he really doesn't move, but I know he is still alive, because he moves very little, but doesn't really bring his tiny feet out like he did.... my poor starfish!!!!
He's still moving around the tank but with little legs... as for the choco star, he really doesn't move, but I know he is still alive, because he moves very little, but doesn't really bring his tiny feet out like he did.... my poor starfish!!!!
puffy_1234
Member
oh and by the way... I was feeding them squid... and my puffer eats only goldfish... that's all I can ge him to eat...