ophiura . . . help!
- Thread starter mbrands
- Start date
yacobito
Member
I had a CC that had a spot just like that one. It was from my hermits nipping at him. My star slowly died and my crabs would take nips at him while he was on the sand. I hope this is not the case with yours. I am by far no expert at all, but I thought I would share. I hope he gets better.
mbrands
Member
Thank you all for the advise/suggestions last night! I do have hermits in the tank, so the spot could be from them nipping as well. I don't ever see the cc star on the bottom of the tank though. He is either in the rockwork or at the top of the glass.
The water from the RO/DI machine could be the issue, but I doubt it. The machine is serviced and the filters are changed something like every 10 days or 2 weeks. I know the windmill looking units you mentioned and it isn't one of those.
Thank you all for wishing Joe a healthy recovery. I set up my 10 gallon yesterday with LR and 5 gallons from my 55. Hopefully there won't be much of a cycle and I can move him over.
ophiura? Any chance you are back?
The water from the RO/DI machine could be the issue, but I doubt it. The machine is serviced and the filters are changed something like every 10 days or 2 weeks. I know the windmill looking units you mentioned and it isn't one of those.
Thank you all for wishing Joe a healthy recovery. I set up my 10 gallon yesterday with LR and 5 gallons from my 55. Hopefully there won't be much of a cycle and I can move him over.
ophiura? Any chance you are back?
ophiura
Active Member
Okiedokie...
Yes, I do have a life outside SWF, or more appropriately, an extremely slow link up at home.
1) Specific gravity should be at 1.025-1.026 so this is not an issue
2) Hermits can cause issues with CC stars and others if they are not reef safe - big guys generally. When a star is "attacked" by hermits, they are either big nasty hermits, or the star is dying. Usually, the star is dying, and the hermits would be all over it.
3) Does it still eat and otherwise behave normally?
4) Puffers could nip at it...this is a risk to watch out for.
5) Are the arm tips still intact, and otherwise no white mucusy holes forming?
6) OK, can't quite remember how long you've had this guy - more than a month?
7) Any recent large water changes or other perturbations in the tank? (eg temp spikes, etc?)
8) though I haven't searched it, I am nearly 100% certain that any links on CC "disease" is due to acclimation, starvation or other water quality issues....they are very hardy animals once established.
Disease is very unlikely in a healthy CC star, but so few people want to admit that there could be another issue that they turn to a disease...not that it is happening here, but in general when I see mention of it.
These guys have incredible abilities to regenerate...if tank conditions are good and it is eating, I don't worry too much. It doesn't look terrible at this point..just surface stuff. If, however, the arm tips start to erode, or this develops into a hole, that is a bigger concern. At that point, I would probably recommend and amputation of the arm...but lets wait and see. Could be nothing
Yes, I do have a life outside SWF, or more appropriately, an extremely slow link up at home.
1) Specific gravity should be at 1.025-1.026 so this is not an issue
2) Hermits can cause issues with CC stars and others if they are not reef safe - big guys generally. When a star is "attacked" by hermits, they are either big nasty hermits, or the star is dying. Usually, the star is dying, and the hermits would be all over it.
3) Does it still eat and otherwise behave normally?
4) Puffers could nip at it...this is a risk to watch out for.
5) Are the arm tips still intact, and otherwise no white mucusy holes forming?
6) OK, can't quite remember how long you've had this guy - more than a month?
7) Any recent large water changes or other perturbations in the tank? (eg temp spikes, etc?)
8) though I haven't searched it, I am nearly 100% certain that any links on CC "disease" is due to acclimation, starvation or other water quality issues....they are very hardy animals once established.
Disease is very unlikely in a healthy CC star, but so few people want to admit that there could be another issue that they turn to a disease...not that it is happening here, but in general when I see mention of it.
These guys have incredible abilities to regenerate...if tank conditions are good and it is eating, I don't worry too much. It doesn't look terrible at this point..just surface stuff. If, however, the arm tips start to erode, or this develops into a hole, that is a bigger concern. At that point, I would probably recommend and amputation of the arm...but lets wait and see. Could be nothing
mbrands
Member
Originally posted by ophiura
2) Hermits can cause issues with CC stars and others if they are not reef safe - big guys generally. When a star is "attacked" by hermits, they are either big nasty hermits, or the star is dying. Usually, the star is dying, and the hermits would be all over it.
While I have hermits, they are all relatively small.
Originally posted by ophiura
3) Does it still eat and otherwise behave normally?
Yes.
Originally posted by ophiura
5) Are the arm tips still intact, and otherwise no white mucusy holes forming?
Yes, other than the spot in the picture, everything else looks fine. Definitely no holes.
Originally posted by ophiura
6) OK, can't quite remember how long you've had this guy - more than a month?
Yes, this can't be due to acclimation . . . at least I don't think so. I've had him since late December.
Originally posted by ophiura
7) Any recent large water changes or other perturbations in the tank? (eg temp spikes, etc?)
No. I change 10% regularly. I did recently dial down my heaters a bit. The tank had been around 82 degrees. With the upgraded lighting I was afraid it would get too warm. I went to 81 for a few days, then down to 80.
Originally posted by ophiura
Disease is very unlikely in a healthy CC star, but so few people want to admit that there could be another issue that they turn to a disease.
I don't think it is disease, but wanted an expert opinion. My gut feeling is the puffer is being a little sh*t.
I'm soooooooooooooo glad you are back!! I wish there was a "smilie" for hugging! :cheer:
2) Hermits can cause issues with CC stars and others if they are not reef safe - big guys generally. When a star is "attacked" by hermits, they are either big nasty hermits, or the star is dying. Usually, the star is dying, and the hermits would be all over it.
While I have hermits, they are all relatively small.
Originally posted by ophiura
3) Does it still eat and otherwise behave normally?
Yes.
Originally posted by ophiura
5) Are the arm tips still intact, and otherwise no white mucusy holes forming?
Yes, other than the spot in the picture, everything else looks fine. Definitely no holes.
Originally posted by ophiura
6) OK, can't quite remember how long you've had this guy - more than a month?
Yes, this can't be due to acclimation . . . at least I don't think so. I've had him since late December.
Originally posted by ophiura
7) Any recent large water changes or other perturbations in the tank? (eg temp spikes, etc?)
No. I change 10% regularly. I did recently dial down my heaters a bit. The tank had been around 82 degrees. With the upgraded lighting I was afraid it would get too warm. I went to 81 for a few days, then down to 80.
Originally posted by ophiura
Disease is very unlikely in a healthy CC star, but so few people want to admit that there could be another issue that they turn to a disease.
I don't think it is disease, but wanted an expert opinion. My gut feeling is the puffer is being a little sh*t.
I'm soooooooooooooo glad you are back!!
I wish there was a "smilie" for hugging! :cheer:
ophiura
Active Member
Awe shucks. YOu made a yucky Monday morning brighter
Thanks!
I say stay the course at this time. I am not especially worried about it - really seems superficial like he got a scrape. As mentioned if it progresses...that is not so good. If it leaves the glass, sits in one place on the substrate for awhile, and suddenly has the attention of your hermits, that is not a good sign.
For now, keep him well fed, and keep your fingers crossed!
Thanks!
I say stay the course at this time. I am not especially worried about it - really seems superficial like he got a scrape. As mentioned if it progresses...that is not so good. If it leaves the glass, sits in one place on the substrate for awhile, and suddenly has the attention of your hermits, that is not a good sign.
For now, keep him well fed, and keep your fingers crossed!