Is my star dieing?

[racin24fan]

I bought an orange linka last week. He is a very active little thing and goes all over the tank. Today I notice that one of his legs is falling off and has white stuff coming out. He still moves around the tank, in fact in the last hour he has moved from the sand up onto the glass and from one end of the tank to the other. Should I be concerned?

It has been a great addition to my tank and I would hate to lose it.
Also, I bought a serpent star last week too. I NEVER SEE IT. I moved some rocks and found him yesterday just to make sure he was still there.
Also, how many stars per tank is a good idea? Id like to get another one.

 

[novahobbies]

the arm doesn't sound good.....he's probably going to lose it. Linka starfish in general are hard to keep, although I've heard the orange 'fish are easier to keep than the blues. They can survive an arm amputation, and in the wild will even grow an arm back. This is less likely in a reef aquarium, because even our best efforts cannot duplicate the chemistry and food availability of a wild environment. But unless you see that "white stuff" at the ends of his other arms, or coming out of his oral disc, you still have a chance of keeping the star. There are other far more starfish-savvy people out there on these boards...hopefully one of them will chime in if the arm needs to be amputated.
As for your brittle star, don't worry. They are nocturnal, and rarely seen during the daytime hours. My serpent star hangs out under the rocks all day and only comes out for the evening feeding. I see him sometimes creeping around the tank when I pad out to the kitchen at 3 AM also....

 

[sepulatian]

How long did you acclimate these stars? It sounds like acclimation shock which can take a month to occur. Stars, particularly Linkias, are very sensitive to water parameter changes. They require long acclimations, via drip method, of around four-five hours. Another significant factor in the health of a star is salinity. It should be at 35PPT which is a SG reading of 1.026 for stars. Excellent water quality is also a must.

 

[racin24fan]

It is still alive this morning but the arm looks worse and more of it is missing. My salinity is 1.023. I acclimated for 4 long hours.
I have a lot of live rock in my tank. Could it have got snagged on a sharp rock? Or could my fish be bothering it. I haven't seen anything bother it but I am not in front of the tank 24/7 either.
I have:
a yellow tang,
heniochus butterfly,
2 false percula clowns,
a tiny baby maroon clown, (might have to get another I heard 3 clowns wont work)
banggai cardinal,
urchin,
anemone,
the serp. star,
snails,
hermits,
shrimp,
mandarin dragonet,
fire goby, (stays in rocks and I never see until feeding)
purple fire gobby, (stays in rocks and I never see until feeding)
and a bi color blenny.

 

[subielover]

What size tank do you have this in?

 

[racin24fan]

55

 

[sepulatian]

My salinity is 1.023
There is your problem. Stars need a SG of 1.026. 1.023 is too low. This star is likely to not make it, but raise the SG for future inverts. You can top off your water with saltwater instead of fresh, mixed at 1.026, until it is high enough.
Your stock list is awfully high. I would not add any more fish. Watch your water parameters.

 

[tizzo]

And there's always the risk that the LFS didn't acclimate him properly also...
Ask them how to acclimate an invert such as a star and see what kind of answer you get.

 

[racin24fan]

Thanks for all your help. So far it is still alive. The leg has stopped disappearing. Any chance it will grow back if it lives?

 

[jeanheckle]

They do regenerate their legs. Hope all goes well. I have a purple beaded starfish.