urchin eating star

[ryan]

I have a star that Ive been having problems with for the last couple months. I had to amputate one of its arms, and it looked like he was recovering. After a couple weeks though he started to lose some color on his arms in little spots. I couldnt figure out what the problem was, but last night when I got home from work I found my longspine urchin on top of him eating away. The one arm that was still red is all white now. Dam urchin. Its weird though he hasnt bothered the other 2 stars in my tank at all.

 

[schadiest1]

fish will do the same thing when they know there is an injured fish swimming around. they will pick at him and pick at him. same thing with your injured starfish.... the urchin thought it was a free meal cuz of the wound ur starfish had.

 

[ophiura]

I'm worried that might be the case. If the star is indeed doing better overall (is it eating?) then it shouldn't be a terrible thing. But usually if they are healthy the can avoid this sort of problem. Did the arm close up and heal, or start to regrow?

 

[schadiest1]

you should maybe hospitalize ur starfish until it fully heals, and then ur urchin should leave him alone.

 

[ryan]

No the arm that I cut off hasnt started to regrow or heal I guess it looks the same as it did when I cut it.