Is my starfish dying?

[starfish 1]

I have this starfish a blue linkia that was a little over 1/4 inch on a rock I got some time ago. It has grown to about 4 inches in diameter. Now it is not moving and his 5 arms are shaped in an S form. Is he dying? Does any body know?

 

[Len]

It's hard to say. Usually, when they die, you will see rapid tissue necrosis (melting). Have you done anything different with your tank lately? It could be in a state of shock (possibly osmotic). Starfish live 5-10 years, so it's also possible your specimen is getting old.

 

[starfish 1]

No nothing different done to the tank every thing is as all ways as far as water quality is concerned. Its just he used to move about all over the tank and now he just stays in the same spot. He is not old, as he was a tiny thing and grew lovely over the last year. Has he run out of food perhaps? I have never had a star fish before. Or may be he got stung by one of the hundreds of Majano anemones that I cant seem to get rid off.

 

[Mike612]

That same thing just happened to me. I noticed a couple of months ago that my Blue Linkia was slowing down a lot and then last week he just started to disintegrate. I'm not sure what the cause is because all my levels are fine, I haven't done anything different with the tank, and there is plenty of algae for him to graze on. It's a mystery.

 

[Len]

It's probably diet and malnutrition related, and I believe some Linkia spp are quite finicky with what they will eat.

FYI: Here's a good article about these starfish written by Rob Toonen, pHD a while back:
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/ ... toonen.htm

 

[stubbsz]

I had a Serpent star contort all his legs in to s-shapes one time... after aggressively dosing FW-exit. He recovered quickly, next day after running GAC.

If they start shedding legs, wave buh-bye (in my experience (actually in what I've read mainly))

-Adrian

 

[starfish 1]

Thank you all for your replies. Len ,very intersting article by Rob Toonen. So far though he has not discolored so I am hoping he may get better. I have done very large water change to help.I normally do a 20% change every 3 weeks.

 

[Len]

starfish, any updates about your Linkia? I'm curiuos if it's sprung back to life. Of course, when doing larger w/c, be sure to match the temp and salinity. Inverts don't deal well with osmotic shock

 

[starfish 1]

No he is still in the same spot, looks all bunched up wit arms tucked under, but still has blue color no patches. I use nsw have done for 15 years. I prefilter it before use. Temperature was the same.