white stringy stuff coming from starfish

[cartman101]

I'm new to the whole starfish thing and i got a chocolate chip star as a gift. Well hes moving on the wall and hes leaving a trail of white stringy stuff. Not alot only a little. Is this normal? And what do they eat? Do they eat flake food cause thats what i have been putting in my tank to feed the invert.

 

[fishieness]

they will eat silversides or krill. Just put a little bit on a leg of his and wait for him to grab it. Some captive-raised ones will eat flake food, taht is actualy what they feed them where they are bread sometimes. The starfish will sit with half of his body on the surface of the water waiting for some flakes to come to his arms.
do you have any copper medications? Are the white stringy stuff like parts of his flesh? because if so he may be dieng and copper could be the problem if you have ever used it. Or is it a mucus trail?

 

[cartman101]

looks like mucus to me. WAIT! Theres only the white stringy stuff where he was sleeping hes moving now but there is no white stuff in his trail

 

[ophiura]

Flake food is not sufficient for feeding these stars at all. Feed meatier food, and some algae sheets now and then as well. They have a relatively diverse diet in the wild. It is not, BTW, reef safe and does pose a threat to snails, shrimp etc. It should not be kept with large wrasses, angels and triggerfish.