Putting down my sea star

[Covenant]

Hi all,

When I added my first tank inhabitants, I have to confess the sin of not having properly researched what I was getting and what its requirements were. Living in Thunder Bay doesn't give a whole lot of selection, and what little marine livestock there is, is very expensive. So I bought a starfish. I had no clue what type, or anything about it, so I asked the LFS employee - she said she thought they ate algae because she had one and had never seen it eat anything else but it was still alive, so therefore.... Big mistake, trusting her, but my own fault for buying impulsively.

To cut to the chase, my white sand star (as I finally found out is it's proper name) is starving to death in my 33 gallon tank, all its legs are disintegrating (I lived in Sudbury for 2 months, therefore didn't see the damage until I returned home), and my substrate is depleted of all non-bristle worm or larger 'pod-type organisms. There's no hope for this poor starfish, but my question is - do I put it out of its misery? And how? I could leave it out of water until it dries up, or put it in freshwater to kill it more quickly, or I could dose it with something lethal... Any (humane) suggestions? TIA

[Frank]

Lisa,

I'm so sorry to hear this story! :sad2:

Unfortunately, this is a far too commom problem in this hobby. Impulsive buying hurts the owner (for feeling badly about how to care for the animal) and usually ends with livestock perishing without need.

Unfortunately, your starfish is already basically dead (based on the fact that it's legs are disintegrating). There really isn't anything you can do for it now. The best I can suggest to you, would be to remove it from the tank as it is only polluting and causing more water quality problems.

Please don't add anymore livestock for at least a month, and let your system re-condition (maintaining proper water parameters and by doing weekly water changes of 25%). After the next month passes, as long as your parameters are within proper levels, you can slowly start to add again - but be sure not to overstock.

If you have ANY questions on livestock, parameters, stocking... ANYTHING...please post them and I promise to provide you the best answer possible.

:read: If you have not already purchased it...look into purchasing a copy of Robert Fenner's "The Conscientious Marine Aquarist" or even a simple handbook like Barron's "The Saltwater Aquarium Handbook".

Sorry again for your loss, and good luck!
Dr. Frank

[canadawest]

Check with other reefkeepers in the area. Perhaps there is a better home somewhere nearby?

Also ask the LFS in your area if they are interested in taking it back, in trade, or even just to bring back to health? Maybe they have a larger established tank it can recover in?

Destroying it would hopefully be your last choice.

[ajx22]

:sad:Wishful thinking unfortunately here Andrew...

Based on the description Covenant gave...the poor starfish has already departed to the Great Big Ocean in the Sky, and is only basically rotting in the tank!

If it was still moving and TRYING to recover (and hadn't lost the majority of it's legs), then there would be hope. Starfish can and will grow legs back...but that's usually when they loose them to a sharp object/predator. When they start to 'rot' off...it's a different story.

Covenant...
If you still have hope for the little guy...then by all means try to recover him in a QUARANTINE TANK to save your show tank from any more spikes. But if all is as you described, then I think that my partner (a marine biologist & 20+ year reef keeping veteran) is correct in pronouncing this poor guy "DOA".

Again...good luck and so very sorry to hear about this sad story.

[Dman]

Dr. Frank,
Based on the ajx22 statement that starfish grow back their tentacles from sharp object or predator intervention and the often heard ability of propagating starfish by literally slicing them into five pieces, could the rotting growth exibited on the tentacles of a sick starfish not be just surgically removed.
Dman

[Mitchell]

Covenant

Well what else can be said. I have been in the same boat. I bought a sandsifter on impulse as well. I ended up giving him away to a freind.
Keep the questions coming in

[ajx22]

Originally posted by Dman
Dr. Frank,
Based on the ajx22 statement that starfish grow back their tentacles from sharp object or predator intervention and the often heard ability of propagating starfish by literally slicing them into five pieces, could the rotting growth exibited on the tentacles of a sick starfish not be just surgically removed.
Dman

Hey Dman...

From my understanding, if a starfish is 'healthy' and looses a limb, then it will be fine (like when propogating), but if it is loosing limbs due to them 'rotting or disintegrating' as Covenant described, then usually the animal is very ill and due to not having suffecient nutrient intake...can not repair its self.

I spoke with Frank last evening for quite some time, and this is what I picked up as the basis for his reply. One think that I know about Frank...if there was ANY real hope of this guy being brought back...he would likely pay the shipping himself (personally) and perform mouth-to-mouth if necessary.

I dunno...wish there were some place in this thread that I could find for a good news blurb...but I'm kinda at a loss.

:sad2:

[Mitchell]

Good news blurb

Someone is learning about this great hobby and not all learning is painless.