Is my starfish dead?
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: Invertebrates
Forum Description: This is the place to ask questions about invertebrates.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=36847
Printed Date: September 23 2025 at 2:25am
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Topic: Is my starfish dead?
Posted By: AvesSaltGuy
Subject: Is my starfish dead?
Date Posted: November 30 2009 at 7:19pm
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It looks kinda crumpled up and like it's spit out its insides...
It's a big blue starfish...
Any ideas? All my params are good. ------------- Michael - 120G Reef Acans, Pom Poms, Zoas... Clowns, a firefish, and a coral beauty -purple tang, sailfin desjardinii, Filtration - sump, protein skimmer, UV sterilizer, 2 Koralias, refugium. |
Replies:
Posted By: Jeffs_little_ocean
Date Posted: November 30 2009 at 7:49pm
| Probably. Blue linkia starfish arent really very hardy. I had an orange one for afew months, but even with good water parms he melted away one day. |
Posted By: CapnMorgan
Date Posted: November 30 2009 at 9:49pm
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I've had my orange linkia for quite some time and he does fine. Did anything pick at it? Are your water params stable? Do you use an auto top-off? Is there any possibility that copper could have been introduced to the aquarium? (ie: kids, wiring, coins, etc.) ------------- Steve http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=40637&PID=356246" rel="nofollow - My Old 180G Mixed Reef Currently: 120G Wavefront Mixed 29G Seahorse & Softies Running ReefAngel Plus x2 435-8 |
Posted By: AvesSaltGuy
Date Posted: November 30 2009 at 11:53pm
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Hey there - my orange one I've had since the tank was a week and a half old. Water params have only been improving - water cleanliness and nitrates decreasing... Is it dead?
No auto top off, I do it old school.
No kids, no pets, no wiring... weird! ------------- Michael - 120G Reef Acans, Pom Poms, Zoas... Clowns, a firefish, and a coral beauty -purple tang, sailfin desjardinii, Filtration - sump, protein skimmer, UV sterilizer, 2 Koralias, refugium. |
Posted By: CapnMorgan
Date Posted: December 01 2009 at 12:21am
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Not having an auto top off could be a little stressful for some stars as the sg will go up and down as water evaporates and is then replaced by you. Do you have a refugium on your tank? If so do you operate the light on the reverse daylight schedule? If not you could also be having low ph swings at night due to build up of Co2 ------------- Steve http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=40637&PID=356246" rel="nofollow - My Old 180G Mixed Reef Currently: 120G Wavefront Mixed 29G Seahorse & Softies Running ReefAngel Plus x2 435-8 |
Posted By: AvesSaltGuy
Date Posted: December 01 2009 at 12:27am
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Have refugium on timer and it's PERFECTLY opposite. Hmm... I've monitored the SG a lot though... not sure. ------------- Michael - 120G Reef Acans, Pom Poms, Zoas... Clowns, a firefish, and a coral beauty -purple tang, sailfin desjardinii, Filtration - sump, protein skimmer, UV sterilizer, 2 Koralias, refugium. |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: December 01 2009 at 10:14am
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I seem to recall that Sea Stars will disgorge their intestines due to some kind of stimuli...can't remember what it is. Does this ring a bell with anyone? I think it may be when they are stung by something.
Anyway, since Linkia Sea Stars starve so easily in a newer aquarium, I would consider myself lucky that the orange one is still alive.  The filtration and general health of a reef aquarium increase with age as the LR and LS mature and all kinds of life begins to populate it. After a tank reaches it's first year, is when Sea Stars do much better.------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
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Posted By: AvesSaltGuy
Date Posted: December 01 2009 at 10:19am
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I just added a sea cucumber and an urchin.
My LR 1/2 of it was very mature, (the other half was cured, I have 120lb of LR) and had LS (80lb)... so doesnt' that give a bit of a jump? But yea I love gumby my orange one. The other one is now living it up in with some wine bottles and leaves in the garbage bin. I just couldn't stand to watch my arrow crab with another kill. ------------- Michael - 120G Reef Acans, Pom Poms, Zoas... Clowns, a firefish, and a coral beauty -purple tang, sailfin desjardinii, Filtration - sump, protein skimmer, UV sterilizer, 2 Koralias, refugium. |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: December 01 2009 at 10:59am
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Yes, the older LR helps a lot.
Personally I have never liked Arrow Crabs. They can cause problems. ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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