moldy starfish!?!?

[norcal]

so i have been noticing that my chocolate chip starfish is starting to get these dark brown like moldy looking spots on the ends of his legs. i think that he might be just getting some new coloration but im a little concerned taht he could have some sickness or something. he also has not been eating as much lately...... when i first got him he would eat anything i set within a few inches of him, now he kind of ignores stuff more than normal. anybody know if hes ok or whats the deal?

 

[sw65galma]

Originally Posted by norcal
so i have been noticing that my chocolate chip starfish is starting to get these dark brown like moldy looking spots on the ends of his legs. i think that he might be just getting some new coloration but im a little concerned taht he could have some sickness or something. he also has not been eating as much lately...... when i first got him he would eat anything i set within a few inches of him, now he kind of ignores stuff more than normal. anybody know if hes ok or whats the deal?
If it's just brown it's ok.
If it starts to look cotton like, then there might be a problem.
unfortunatley with stars there is no treatment for any disease besides keeping the water quality perfect...Sorry.

 

[ophiura]

What are your specific water parameters??

 

[norcal]

ammonia: 0-10
nitrite 0
nitrate 20
ph 8.3
spec gravity 1.024
temp 78-79
other:
55 gal tank,
5 gr. chromis
1 4 stripe
1 blue damsel
2 perculas
lm blenny
yeah the spots are definetly not cottony. they are like dark brown, i would post a pic but my camera cant zoom in very well. do you think im maybe not giving him an effective diet?? i give him a combo of baby clams, salmon, crab and whatever else he scavenges from my fish food (mysis, spirulina, and other flakes). what do you think ophiura??
mike
ps you frikken rock ophiura i have learned sooooo much from browsing posts and reading your comments...thanks

and also thanks for the post sw65, it makes me feel a little better. :yes:

 

[ophiura]

Sounds like it is getting a diverse diet.
Um...tho....what test kit are you using? 0-10 ammonia??? I'd hope for a bit more accuracy than that! Your specific gravity is the lowest I would go for sure. I like it a bit higher for searstars but it is not fatal at this point. As these stars grow, their colors can change some so offhand if it is behaving relatively normally - still at least eating, then I wouldn't worry too much. How often do you try and feed it?

 

[norcal]

the test kit i am currently using is pretty old....its from aquarium pharmicuticals. its not that its not that accurate, its just that i suck at reading it

so i think its (ammonia) about 5 if i had to get specific. my kit is starting to run a little low though, so what should i replace it with? like what do you use? my specific gravity was a bit lower earlier this month, closer to 1.021. so maybe that was hard on him. i will definetly keep it higher from now on. as for feeding, i feed it at least once a day, often twice. ok one last thing, totally off the topic but i know you can help. :needhelp: i really want to grow corraline in my tank. i have several patches here and there but whats the best way to get it to spread? i have heard so many theories but they are all very broad and i guess im looking for some specifics about what levels to have things like calcium and alkality at. also the best amount of light etc. thanks sooooo much!

 

[sw65galma]

Originally Posted by norcal
the test kit i am currently using is pretty old....its from aquarium pharmicuticals. its not that its not that accurate, its just that i suck at reading it

so i think its (ammonia) about 5 if i had to get specific. my kit is starting to run a little low though, so what should i replace it with? like what do you use? my specific gravity was a bit lower earlier this month, closer to 1.021. so maybe that was hard on him. i will definetly keep it higher from now on. as for feeding, i feed it at least once a day, often twice. ok one last thing, totally off the topic but i know you can help. :needhelp: i really want to grow corraline in my tank. i have several patches here and there but whats the best way to get it to spread? i have heard so many theories but they are all very broad and i guess im looking for some specifics about what levels to have things like calcium and alkality at. also the best amount of light etc. thanks sooooo much!
Aim for 1.026 for your sg.
Also for coraline, be careful for what you ask for...I have so much growing i can't control it..it's covering my tank and it's not easy to scrap off..
It's not like you can tell it to just grow on your rocks...
But back to your question. All I can do is tell you what works for me.
water at 1.026 or 53ppt, temp at 82, and 0 everything...
I'd be willing to bet that the calcium level is important as well.
I use Oceanic salt and Instant Ocean...don't know if either one makes a difference.
Also I had a lot of rock with coraline already on it to seed.
I am having the green coraline out break which i hear is somewhat rare...And i know it's coraline because it's as hard as a rock to scrape off..

 

[ophiura]

I would strongly suggest getting new test kits and a better brand. Something is wacky if you can't get a better ammonia reading than "5." A true "5" would be fatal but I don't know the scale being used on that. But even a ".5" would be a very significant concern.
If your specific gravity approaches anywhere NEAR 1.021, this reaches a "fatal" zone for many inverts. Certain individuals would show stress and die at this point. Definitely agree with sw65galma - aim for 1.026 (in the 35 ppt salinity area...bit of a typo there

). 1.024 at a minimum, IMO. :yes:
I encourage a visit to the archives section where you can find several posts on calcium and alkalinity (and pH). All of these, and a couple of others, are involved in calcium/pH balance in a tank and therefor coralline/coral/etc growth.

 

[norcal]

whoops sorry ophiura i meant .05. lol sorry yeah i would be doing something wrong if i had a true 5 level. :scared: as for the salinity, its now at 1.024 and tommorow i dont havve to work so i will adjust it to get it to 1.026. i actually have a different post about corraline going right now that is getting tons of attention, so im really learning alot through that post. thanks so much you two for all the help, i really appreciate it. i had no idea inv. needed a higher salinity than fish. good thing to know :yes: