Starfish desintegrating

[moorish]

I have a 2-3 inch orange linckia starfish which started fine, then it started desintegrating (2-3 tips of its arms started to "meltdown"), and now it is recuperating.
I also had a small Bali red starfish that desintegrated completely in two days.
How can I fix this starfish problem? Any ideas?
Thanks!!
Moorish

 

[ctgretzky9]

we totally need more info:
Age of tank
amount of live rock
ALL parameters (amm, trites, trates, salinity/sg, ph, alk, etc...)
YOUR ACCLIMATION PROCESS is the most important
Thank you!

 

[ophiura]

Agreed, this is most commonly acclimation shock if it happens within a period of a month after introduction.
These stars are very delicate and need very specific conditions (especially related to water quality and amount of LR) to live long term.

 

[moorish]

Thank for the answers.
First, for the orange star. It is on a 12-gallon nano cube two started two months ago. Salinity is 1.024. Ammomia and nitrites are down to 0. There is about 8-10 lb. of live rock. pH=8.2
As for the red star that desintegrated in two days, it was in a 30-gallon tank, again started about a month and a half ago. The tank has about 30 lb. of live rock, ammonia and nitrite are 0. I have had some trouble with the specific gravity in this one though, as it usually is around 1.026-1.027. pH=8.2 In this tank I also have a goniopora coral and a plate coral which are thriving.
I was told by a guy in fish store that it might be phosphates. Could it be true?

 

[mpls man]

I think you started on stars a little tooooo early , i waited almost 1 yr before adding my blue star, any star needs a lot of rock to climb and eat on, i have a 75 gal with 150 lbs of rock and my parms are always at 0, i would do some reading on them before adding another 1, just my 2 c.

 

[ctgretzky9]

WAY too soon for a star of any kind, especially with that little live rock. Wait another 6 mo to a year before attempting it again. Starts need lots of LR to graze on as well.
Also, your acclimation....you didnt tell us how you did this. Stars need about 2-3 hrs of acclimation, using eithr a drip method or the "add a 1/2 cup of tank water to bag every 15 min" method.
If you want to learn more about stars, post something for Ophiura, she is brilliant with these creatures and could tell you way more than I.
And could it be phosphates? Could be, though for the reasons stated above, the age of tank has way more to do with it.
Don't always go by what your LFS says. They need to move product. Come here and post q's.

 

[moorish]

For the stars, I used the 1/2 cup every 15 min. or so acclimation method.
My orange star seems to be doing better, as it is starting to move around the tank a little bit more.

 

[ophiura]

Unfortunately, it is doomed in most cases to die within the year. YOu really don't have much LR in a tank that size. Hope it takes to spot feeding. Just not a good home for it, I am afraid. IMO, a basic tank for them would be a 55g with at least 75lbs of rock. They must graze on the rock...NOT on algae or detritus as they are commonly advertised. Some will survive in smaller tanks, but this is not the norm.
Your acclimation was much too fast and your tanks are far too young, IMO
I strongly disagree with putting these stars in there.