What is wrong with my Star?
- Thread starter jvannis
- Start date
ophiura
Active Member
It is not being eaten most likely...though perhaps be scavengers.,
Nearly all of these stars will die in captivity of starvation.
What size is your tank?
What are your specific parameters?
I've you've had it a month, it may be acclimation shock.
If you've had it 6 months or longer (esp a year) it is very likely starvation. They basically start to "disintegrate" and arms fall off until it is basically just gone.l
They usually only survive long term in very large tanks with very mature deep sand beds.
Nearly all of these stars will die in captivity of starvation.
What size is your tank?
What are your specific parameters?
I've you've had it a month, it may be acclimation shock.
If you've had it 6 months or longer (esp a year) it is very likely starvation. They basically start to "disintegrate" and arms fall off until it is basically just gone.l
They usually only survive long term in very large tanks with very mature deep sand beds.
ophiura
Active Member
If you watch water quality closely, I imagine you will be fine.
Offhand, have you ever tried spot feeding it? Something like a small bit of shrimp on a bamboo skewer, touched to the arms to see if it will take it? Few do, but it is worth trying.
If you want to "put it down" I can give you tips. The best way for seastars is a reverse acclimation (put it in a bucket with a bit of saltwater and slowly add seawater). This effectively "relaxes" it.
Whenever I mention this I feel I must bring up Steinbeck, who actually refers to this in "sweet Thursday"
[hr]
Doc got back from his collecting about four-thirty... and submerged in sea water in his collecting buckets were hundreds of brittlestars. He moved the brittlestars to a large, flat-bottomed glass dish and poured some sea water on top of them. The little animals with the snakelike arms whipped about for a moment and then settled down. When they were quite still and resting Doc added a little fresh water to the dish. The arms stirred nervously. He waited a while and then added a little more fresh water. To a sea animal, fresh water is a poison, and if it is slowly introduced it is as subtle as morphine. It relaxes and soothes until the little creature goes to sleep and dies without violence."
[hr]
Oddly enough, to me this is one of the more beautiful passages I've encountered, specifically the last sentence, perhaps due to the compassion shown to "little creatures."
A similar effect can be achieved with Epsom salts. Put the star in a shallow dish with seawater and in a corner put a tablespoon or so of epsom salt. Every so often, tip the tray to dissolve some salt. It, too, is an effective "relaxant" and over time the star will stop moving.
Offhand, have you ever tried spot feeding it? Something like a small bit of shrimp on a bamboo skewer, touched to the arms to see if it will take it? Few do, but it is worth trying.
If you want to "put it down" I can give you tips. The best way for seastars is a reverse acclimation (put it in a bucket with a bit of saltwater and slowly add seawater). This effectively "relaxes" it.
Whenever I mention this I feel I must bring up Steinbeck, who actually refers to this in "sweet Thursday"
[hr]
Doc got back from his collecting about four-thirty... and submerged in sea water in his collecting buckets were hundreds of brittlestars. He moved the brittlestars to a large, flat-bottomed glass dish and poured some sea water on top of them. The little animals with the snakelike arms whipped about for a moment and then settled down. When they were quite still and resting Doc added a little fresh water to the dish. The arms stirred nervously. He waited a while and then added a little more fresh water. To a sea animal, fresh water is a poison, and if it is slowly introduced it is as subtle as morphine. It relaxes and soothes until the little creature goes to sleep and dies without violence."
[hr]
Oddly enough, to me this is one of the more beautiful passages I've encountered, specifically the last sentence, perhaps due to the compassion shown to "little creatures."
A similar effect can be achieved with Epsom salts. Put the star in a shallow dish with seawater and in a corner put a tablespoon or so of epsom salt. Every so often, tip the tray to dissolve some salt. It, too, is an effective "relaxant" and over time the star will stop moving.