What is eating my starfish?

[nina&noah]

I have 2 sand sifting starfish that have been in my tank from the beginning, which is about 1 year. Yesterday I noticed that both of them are missing arms. How strange is that? What is going on? My tank inhabitants include:
2 perculas
blue hippo
royal dottyback
yellow wrasse
3 chromis
hermits
No one is new, so I have no idea what could be happening! Thanks for any input!

 

[candycane]

Most likely necrosis with that group of fish. They run out of nutrients and just sort of deteriorate and begin to get infections.

 

[nina&noah]

That is horrible! What can I do? Is there anything that I can add to the water?

 

[tizzo]

If I remember correctly the one year mark is when you see that they are starving, either due to lack of food, or the wrong foods.
I could ask you all about your parameters, but if you've had your tank set up for a year, I'll assume you've considered that.

 

[bang guy]

I agree, starvation.
Ophiura has indicated that it is nearly impossible to target feed them long term. You could replace your sand bed with fresh live sand but that would be really expensive.

 

[spanko]

Originally Posted by Bang Guy
http:///forum/post/2671839
I agree, starvation.
Ophiura has indicated that it is nearly impossible to target feed them long term. You could replace your sand bed with fresh live sand but that would be really expensive.
And you would be in the same situation not too far down the road. This is a good thread for all to take heed of if considering a sand sifting star. It has been said over and over that our tanks cannot support their life long term and here is a good example.
Sorry to hear about yours nina&noah, probably time to get them out of there or buy rent a couple of Harlequin shrimp to take them out.

 

[dallassvt]

Originally Posted by spanko
http:///forum/post/2671849
And you would be in the same situation not too far down the road. This is a good thread for all to take heed of if considering a sand sifting star. It has been said over and over that our tanks cannot support their life long term and here is a good example.
Sorry to hear about yours nina&noah, probably time to get them out of there or buy rent a couple of Harlequin shrimp to take them out.
Putting a Harlequin Shrimp in there would just create another problem when they run out of Starfish to eat!

Just take the stars out to avoid the Nitrates!

 

[nina&noah]

Ohhhhh I feel horrible!

I didn't know! I saw them on the list of animals to avoid, but that was months after I got them. Since they seemed to be doing fine I assumed I was lucky. I had no idea that it would take a year for the poor things to starve to death.
The LFS that sold them to me is now out of business, so atleast there is a bright side!

 

[spanko]

Originally Posted by DallasSVT
http:///forum/post/2671914
Putting a Harlequin Shrimp in there would just create another problem when they run out of Starfish to eat!

Just take the stars out to avoid the Nitrates!

Hello.

You can keep them alive though, unlike the sand sifting stars, by purchasing more stars to feed them.