starfish a goner

ivy2dw7

ivy2dw7

Member
My serpent star is just about dead. I have absolutely no idea what happened. I've had him since February or March and he's been doing perfectly fine up until the past few days. I noticed yesterday that he had a small hole on his underside in between one of his legs and brown stuff was peaking out of that and his mouth and I knew he was going to die. I just looked in this morning and he is out in view on one of the rocks, his whole body is one big hole on top now and his body has split in between two of his legs so it is no longer in tact. He still has all of his legs and they're moving around a tiny bit sometimes but I just don't see how he could possibly live much longer. What should I do with him? I don't want to just leave him in the tank to rot but flushing isn't an option I don't think... If anyone has any ideas I need suggestions fast because I don't think he is goign to live for much longer :(
 
nemo lover

nemo lover

Member
have you tested your water lately? what are your readings? Honestly I think ophiura would be the person to talk too.
 
ivy2dw7

ivy2dw7

Member
Right now I don't care about all of that. I need to do something with the serpent's body, that's all that matters. I know he's as good as dead, but I don't know if I'm supposed to flush him or what. Usually if something dies in my tank the serpent gets to it before I even see it but this is no longer the case.
 
ivy2dw7

ivy2dw7

Member
I have less than half an hour to figure out what to do with him. I know he is not going to survive from this, his body isn't even intact at all. Should I just freeze him? I appreciate the support and everything and I'm not trying to be rude but I am extremely limited on time here and I don't want to leave him in my tank all day when it could be harmful for my 2 fish and corals. So should I freeze him and then throw him out w/the trash, flush him, or any other suggestions?
 
clownme

clownme

Member
Do you have a quarantine tank to put him in until you get back? I know it's a stupid question...I am only trying to help :)
 
ivy2dw7

ivy2dw7

Member
My quarantine hasnt been running for a month or two now so the water is around 70 degrees probably and I would need to clean it out. I need to put him out of his misery and I just need to know how to do it and I need to know fast.
 
cbarnes

cbarnes

Member
The most humane thing to do is put him in a bag of tank water and put him in the freezer. I know it sounds bad but this is what I have been told by numerous hobbyist as the most humane way to help our wet friends pass when it comes the time---hope you get this in time b/f flushing.
CMB
 
ivy2dw7

ivy2dw7

Member
Thanks thats what I figured would be best. He's still alive but I don't see how he would ever survive from this, so I'm going to put him in the freezer now. RIP
 
cbarnes

cbarnes

Member
Very sorry for your wet friend---but after seeing the picture I think you are doing the right thing. I wk at an animal ER so I know how difficult it is to make the decision to help our lil friends pass on---wet or furry pets--hard to lose any and even harder to make the decision.
But just know you are doing the humane thing for your wet friend. Again, very sorry for your starand you.

CMB
 
ophiura

ophiura

Active Member
Actually brittlestars CAN recoved from very significant damage to the disk if in an otherwise stable environment and not being picked on. Not always, but often worth a shot.
I would personally have isolated him in a container...WITHIN the tank NOT in a QT as this would have been worse. This keeps things from picking at it.
In a healthy decent size tank a dying star would probably contribute little to an ammonia problem so that isn't a huge concern...if there is an ammonia problem that would be worth investigating on its own as it could have been a cause of the damage.
It is IMPERATIVE to know what your water quality parameters are which was the first question asked - that was spot on. If you are interested in figuring out what may have happened, this is the place to start. Additionally knowing what other animals you have is important. Also any recent water changes. But specific water parameters esp specific gravity, pH, alkalinity, ammonia and nitrate are places to start.
Brittlestars commonly suffer from feeding injuries that result in large holes in the disk. I had one and the wound closed in 9 days or so. They are highly adapted to recover from catastrophic injury. Not always, but not uncommon.

 
ophiura

ophiura

Active Member
If this was not a feeding injury (and from the description it may not have been), and nothing was picking at it (shrimp in the tank? hermits?) then I would seriously look into water quality issues to rule them out ASAP. :yes:
 
cbarnes

cbarnes

Member
ophiura, are serpant stars and brittle stars the same? I thought they were in 2 differant families of stars? Just wondering :thinking: , I am new to the hobby so just a question for you since I know you are the star expert on the boards :D Thanks in advance for your reply.
CMB
 
ophiura

ophiura

Active Member
There is no biological distinction between serpent and brittlestars. Both are common names for the same group of animals - Ophiuroidea, a Class of echinoderms. The distinction is only made in this hobby, and it is inconsistent to boot. In general, things with small arm spines that are held parallel to the arms are called serpentstars and those with spines perpendicular are called brittlestars. However, the latin name means "snake like" hence the common name "Serpentstar." Brittlestars also readily autonomize, or break off parts of the arms, leading to the common name "brittlestar." Both are interchangeable. A "brittlestar" may be in the same group as what would be called a "serpentstar" and may be more closely related to it than to another "brittlestar." It is a meaningless distinction, IMO, and has should not be used to make judgements about behavior, etc, as it often is :yes: They are all ophiuroids, and not two distinct groups of ophiuroids. The class is broken down into "brittlestars" and "basketstars." :D
 
cbarnes

cbarnes

Member
like I said ophiura---you are def. the expert when it comes to the stars :yes: . Amazing on how much you know about them!!!!!---PS the brittles I pulled off my parents place are doing great!! Unfortunately need to get rid of my lemon peel angel b/c she picks on one of them and also looking into getting more of a natural tank w/ corals/polyps. Thanks again for your reply---One more question---I have 3 "brittle stars" in my tank now and was lookink to add a couple serpants---would that be OK? It's a 90 gallon. Thanks again for ur help---u rock. :happy:
CMB
 
sw65galma

sw65galma

Active Member
Originally Posted by ophiura
Actually brittlestars CAN recoved from very significant damage to the disk if in an otherwise stable environment and not being picked on. Not always, but often worth a shot.
I would personally have isolated him in a container...WITHIN the tank NOT in a QT as this would have been worse. This keeps things from picking at it.
In a healthy decent size tank a dying star would probably contribute little to an ammonia problem so that isn't a huge concern...if there is an ammonia problem that would be worth investigating on its own as it could have been a cause of the damage.
It is IMPERATIVE to know what your water quality parameters are which was the first question asked - that was spot on. If you are interested in figuring out what may have happened, this is the place to start. Additionally knowing what other animals you have is important. Also any recent water changes. But specific water parameters esp specific gravity, pH, alkalinity, ammonia and nitrate are places to start.
Brittlestars commonly suffer from feeding injuries that result in large holes in the disk. I had one and the wound closed in 9 days or so. They are highly adapted to recover from catastrophic injury. Not always, but not uncommon.
What would cause a "FEEDING INJURY"??? in a star? :notsure:
 
monalisa

monalisa

Active Member
Originally Posted by sw65galma
What would cause a "FEEDING INJURY"??? in a star? :notsure:
I would also be interested in this, I have 2 black brittlestars, and I spot feed them 1-2 x/week. I don't want to hurt them...
Lisa :happyfish
 
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