Starfish Help

sammyjoe

sammyjoe

Member
I have a Brown Brittle Starfish,I've had him for a few months now but last night after the lights went out he came out of the rockwork and I noticed that some of his tentacles are turning white, or have some white crud on them.I tried to get pictures but couldn't get any clear enough to show it.Three of his five tentacles have this white like apperance.Anyone have any ideas on what is happening??
My tank specs are
55 gallon
Sal-1.024
PH-8.0
Nirates-0
Nitrites-0
Ammon-0
Temp 79-82
 
tarball

tarball

Member
Originally Posted by Sammyjoe
I have a Brown Brittle Starfish,I've had him for a few months now but last night after the lights went out he came out of the rockwork and I noticed that some of his tentacles are turning white, or have some white crud on them.I tried to get pictures but couldn't get any clear enough to show it.Three of his five tentacles have this white like apperance.Anyone have any ideas on what is happening??
My tank specs are
55 gallon
Sal-1.024
PH-8.0
Nirates-0
Nitrites-0
Ammon-0
Temp 79-82

Doesn't sound good, How old is the tank?
Tank should be a minimum of 6 months old with plentiful livestock for maturing water.
Salinity looks a bit low.
I'll never understand why places like this site sell starfish as part of the first cleaning crew.
 
ophiura

ophiura

Active Member
How do you measure specific gravity?
Have you done recent water changes?
What and how often do you feed it?
A picture, even blurry, may help.
Has it lost the arms or are they just a different color?
 
sammyjoe

sammyjoe

Member
I will try to get a picture.He has not lost any tentacles they are just turning colors.Getting lighter or almost whiteish looking. My tank has been up for about 6 months.I measure the gravity with a hydrometer. I know I should have a refractometer and I have looked for one and have not been able to find one in town so guess i'm going to have to order it online.
Checking the salinty a second time i got
Salinity- 32
Specific Gravity is whats 1.024.
I have not done a water change recently so perhaps I know it's not from that.He is moving around and eating.He has been hanging out on the glass towards the top catching food then about two days ago he went inside a hole in my live rock and when he came out last night is when I noticed his color change.
 
sammyjoe

sammyjoe

Member
Yes during the daytime as well still the same.You know what it kind of looks like.It looks like he is shedding his skin or molting.Do starfish molt or do something weird when they are growing?
He is still fairly small.I saw some huge ones at the lfs so kind of wondering if he is growing or something.Here is a pic of him a few days ago before the shedding,or color change.
 
ophiura

ophiura

Active Member
THat species will get lighter at night, significantly so. But no, they do not shed. Here is a day/night comparison (dark is day)
 
sammyjoe

sammyjoe

Member
Oh wow didn't know that so perhaps because he was hiding in the dark hole in the rock and then came out when it was dark thats when i noticed the color change was at night.Today when he was out during the daytime I noticed it as well but he was in the dark hole in the rock.
Only thing is it only seems to be three of the five tentacles are the different color.Anyhow thanks i hope that is what is happening here with my starfish.
 
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