whats going on with my star?
- Thread starter ryan
- Start date
T
tuningvis
Guest
eeewwwww... he's pooping
ophiura
Active Member
That doesn't look good to me at all...it is not, IMO, waste or eggs. Looks more like part of the stomach just disintegrating. I hope I am really wrong there. Can you get a picture of the other side of the star? What do you feed it and how often? What is your specific gravity?
ryan
Member
I think the star is a gonner. His one leg is starting to fall apart. My specific gravity is 1.023. Ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite at 0. Temp is 78, Ph 8.2. Ive been feeding it seaweed sheets, fresh seafood. I dont know if theres not enough food in the tank or what. I also have a cc starfish with him. Theyre both in a 46 gal. Any ideas?
whatsmells
Member
mmmmmmmm....
Y U C K :sleepy: :sleepy:
RIP STARFISHY
Y U C K :sleepy: :sleepy:
RIP STARFISHY
ophiura
Active Member
I would agree he is probably a goner but who knows for sure. FWIW, if you want to "put it down," you can "reverse acclimate" by slowly adding freshwater to a container with salt water. Same can be done with epsom salt. I know, most people will laugh or throw it in the trash, but some may be interested in putting it down and not just letting it suffer more by drying out in the trash. Sorry about it. 
IMO, your salinity is a touch on the low side but I don't think that was the ultimate problem unless it is "high" now. How often do you feed them and did you directly spot feed them?
IMO, your salinity is a touch on the low side but I don't think that was the ultimate problem unless it is "high" now. How often do you feed them and did you directly spot feed them?
ryan
Member
Thanks for all the help everybody. As of now hes in the same state as last time I wrote. One leg is looking bad, but the other 4 are somewhat normal. Thank you for the info on putting him down ophiura. I was wondering how to put them down more humanly. And to answer your question I do spot feed him about twice a week. My specific gravity hasnt changed its been the same since Ive set my tank up. You said it was a little on the low end... Whats normal? I a have always gone by my little meter and it has "ok" marks from 1.020 to 1.023 and Ive always tried to stay on the high end. Any more info would be appreciated. I dont know if its time to put him down or to wait for a little longer.
mbrands
Member
Originally posted by ophiura
if you want to "put it down," you can "reverse acclimate" by slowly adding freshwater to a container with salt water. Same can be done with epsom salt.
ophiura - For humanely (sp?) putting down freshwater fish, I've heard of getting them into a small container, then adding some baking soda. Have you ever heard of that method? Would it also work for saltwater fish? I hope I never need to do this, but I'm curious.
ophiura
Active Member
To be honest, though it takes guts that I haven't always had, the most humane way (widely accepted) to put a fish down is a major wack to the head...smaller fish put in a bag and wacked on a counter. Very fast. I've only been able to do it in dire situations where I really couldn't stand looking at the fish suffering anymore. Haven't heard about the baking soda thing...I'll have to look that one up.
I think, ryan, you are in a tough position. You could/i] try cutting off the affected leg or portion with a clean cut from a razor blade or so. But to be honest, the animal looks pretty thin and the stomach out the mouth is not good. Tough call to make...but if it isn't affecting water quality and the animal is still moving around...well? Hard to call. For echinoderms, and reef systems, specific gravity is often kept higher - 1.025-1.026 (though temperature comes in to play). I would say most inverts do better in higher salinity water, and, if the salinity is "out of typical range" it is better to be higher than too low. Most hydrometers are quite inaccurate to begin with, but that "safe" area is kind of an old time "fish only" standard. Historically fish only systems are kept at lower specific gravity as an anti-parasite measure.
I think, ryan, you are in a tough position. You could/i] try cutting off the affected leg or portion with a clean cut from a razor blade or so. But to be honest, the animal looks pretty thin and the stomach out the mouth is not good. Tough call to make...but if it isn't affecting water quality and the animal is still moving around...well? Hard to call. For echinoderms, and reef systems, specific gravity is often kept higher - 1.025-1.026 (though temperature comes in to play). I would say most inverts do better in higher salinity water, and, if the salinity is "out of typical range" it is better to be higher than too low. Most hydrometers are quite inaccurate to begin with, but that "safe" area is kind of an old time "fish only" standard. Historically fish only systems are kept at lower specific gravity as an anti-parasite measure.