Star fish problem (1 Viewer)

[RobHarrison1969]

Woke up to starfish uncharacteristically running around the tank while the lights are on. Haven’t really seen much of him since I put him in the tank a few weeks ago. It appears his skin is rotting off at the interface of the leg and body. A google search revealed a story of a tank with high Alkalinity having the same issue with his starfish. My level test at 14.1 due to nightly manual kalkwasser dosing. I have not dosed any Alkalinity.
Is it time to do the humane thing?

Thanks in advance for comments.


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[steveb]

In the wild they can loose an arm no big deal.

I would be concerned about bacterial infection but I’m not sure about treatment for inverts.

@Humblefish any experience?

 

[Humblefish]

It is theorized that starfish can get bacterial infections (like Vibrio), and there is also a virus (dubbed the sea star-associated densovirus) which can be responsible for stuff like this.

That being said, starfish are also very sensitive to changing water chemistry and high nitrates/phosphates. So, my best guess is he is being damaged by the elevated alkalinity. I would try to get it back down to at least 11 dKH. If the starfish starts breaking apart, that would be the time to euthanize IMO.

 

[RobHarrison1969]

It is theorized that starfish can get bacterial infections (like Vibrio), and there is also a virus (dubbed the sea star-associated densovirus) which can be responsible for stuff like this.

That being said, starfish are also very sensitive to changing water chemistry and high nitrates/phosphates. So, my best guess is he is being damaged by the elevated alkalinity. I would try to get it back down to at least 11 dKH. If the starfish starts breaking apart, that would be the time to euthanize IMO.

I moved him to a large flower vase and did a 50% water change in vase with saltwater from LFS. Also have a bubbler running. Keeping correct temp will be a challenge once outside temp drops tonight. I will move him to the garage overnight. If it makes it thru tonight I will do a 25% water change. If he starts to break apart I will do the right thing. Thanks


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[mitchell77546]

That’s at the top of the ph scale need to fix that ASAP. Probably kill everything in the tank if you don’t get it back down fairly quickly.


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