Hole in Serpent Star, is he a gone-r?

[Be11yDancer]

Poor purple serpent star, disappeared real good for a couple of days, then emerged missing a toe and a nice white dot in the center of his disc.

I read this meant infection.

The hole has grown to a pinky nail size. I can see his stomach from his top.

There looks to be less infection, can he survive? They regenerate parts, right?

What should I do?

 

[Len]

Ya, IME, it's probably on its way out if there is a growing hole around the oral disk. Legs grow back, but the center infection is a bad sign. I'd watch it for a couple of days, and if it get worse, I'd remove him so it doesn't die behind the rocks and foul your tank.

 

[Anonymous]

What Len said..... sorry but once they start to deteriorate there isn't much to do and one dying behind the rocks can foul the whole tank up in a heartbeat!

 

[Be11yDancer]

I bought and set up a 5 gallon sick tank for this starfish that died. He lived two days with absolutely no limbs.

I love this tank SO much I've left it there and today I SWEAR I see baby starfish sticking to the glass!

Tiny white dots with five legs!?!

He must have reproduced asexually, is this possible?

They are growing fast.

I'll keep you posted, do YOU think they're babies?

There are copepods in there too, white dots that move around and swim a bit. These other things do not swim at all and as far as I can see move like tiny starfish.

 

[gregx]

It sounds as if your starfish has had the richard.

 

[Anonymous]

No, they are more likely hydroids, not baby star fish sorry. Do a search here and you'll find pictures of hydroids. Nothing to worry about unless you keep dwarf seahorses.