Red/Orange Linckia Star Fish Dying

marianelah · 10-17-2006, 11:01 AM

I am new to this forum and need some help. I have a 55g tank with the following:
2 clown
1 blue tang
1 yellow tang
1 damsel
polyps
12 astrea snails
4 red leg hermit crabs
1 red linckia star fish
1 green mandarinfish
1 clam

I added the mandarinfish, 12 astrea snails and the polyps last week . Since then my star fish has started to break appart and I assume is dying. All my water readings are normal, the temperature has been a little high (85 degrees). I had the star for about 2 months. My tank is 3 months old.

I'm new to marine aquariums and this is my first death.

What causes a star fish to die suddenly?
Are there any incompatabilites?

rayjay · 10-17-2006, 12:56 PM

Probably starved to death.
See this link to Robs article on linckia.
ROB TOONEN on LINCKIA STARS

greenbean36191 · 10-17-2006, 01:39 PM

My guess would be improper acclimation leading to osmotic shock. Starvation takes a year or more to show signs, osmotic shock is a lot quicker.

wozza · 10-17-2006, 01:56 PM

what is your salinaty?
they need it to be at NSW levels that is at about 1.025-1.026, as they can not handle changes in the salinaty at all.

here is great article about starfish and there care and suitibalty in the aquarium
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-12/rs/index.php

cheers james

***Reefland*** · 10-17-2006, 05:38 PM

Watch the fish load in your tank, you have a lot going on in a 55 gallon already.

I agree with the osmotic shock with the seastar, they are very, very delicate.

marianelah · 10-17-2006, 11:57 PM

Salinity was at 1.020. That may have been the cause. Thanks everyone for your help. Lesson learned.

wozza · 10-18-2006, 01:01 PM

i think im right in saying this someone feel free to chime in and correct me, but you should slowly rise you salinity other wise you could shock your other tank inhabatants.

cheers james

Leonard · 12-29-2006, 11:22 AM

i have starfish too. Maybe i can learn from other's experience...

kosys · 12-29-2006, 01:02 PM

Yes I agree with Wossa you should definatly raise salinity natural ocean is usally around 1.025 - 1.026 and you would want try and mimic real nature best you can. I think 1.020 is to low.

I also agree with Reefland thats alot goin on for 55 gal tank

Ken

PDAJunkie · 12-30-2006, 01:26 AM

I would also recommend that you trade your mandrain in to your LFS for some credit or I'm afraid that you will have another death on your hands before long. A 3 month old tank will most likely not support a mandrain IMO. Please don't take this as a flame but it is very important that we know how to support our fish before we buy them. Good luck.

kosys · 12-30-2006, 02:23 AM

Richard is correct the manderin dragonet will not survive in a three month old tank. The tank should be 8-9 months old at minimum, the tank needs a healthy copode population main staple for a manderin, or the manderin will starve to death.

Ken

10-17-2006, 11:01 AM	#1
marianelah New in Town Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 2	Red/Orange Linckia Star Fish Dying I am new to this forum and need some help. I have a 55g tank with the following: 2 clown 1 blue tang 1 yellow tang 1 damsel polyps 12 astrea snails 4 red leg hermit crabs 1 red linckia star fish 1 green mandarinfish 1 clam I added the mandarinfish, 12 astrea snails and the polyps last week . Since then my star fish has started to break appart and I assume is dying. All my water readings are normal, the temperature has been a little high (85 degrees). I had the star for about 2 months. My tank is 3 months old. I'm new to marine aquariums and this is my first death. What causes a star fish to die suddenly? Are there any incompatabilites?

10-17-2006, 12:56 PM	#2
rayjay Citizen Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: London, Ontario, Canada Posts: 154	Probably starved to death. See this link to Robs article on linckia. ROB TOONEN on LINCKIA STARS __________________ *RAY'S REEF*

10-17-2006, 01:39 PM	#3
greenbean36191 Citizen Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Auburn/Huntsville, AL Posts: 239	My guess would be improper acclimation leading to osmotic shock. Starvation takes a year or more to show signs, osmotic shock is a lot quicker. __________________ If you can't change the world, change history- TRT

10-17-2006, 01:56 PM	#4
wozza Mayor Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: uk, devon Posts: 879	what is your salinaty? they need it to be at NSW levels that is at about 1.025-1.026, as they can not handle changes in the salinaty at all. here is great article about starfish and there care and suitibalty in the aquarium http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-12/rs/index.php cheers james __________________ 65 US gal system BLAU 150NW in-sump skimmer 150w giesemann pendent 17 kgs of live rock Amphiprion ocellaris - Ocellaris clownfish Amphiprion percula - Percula clownfish Centropyge bispinosus - Coral beauty Pseudocheilinus hexataenia - Six line wrasse Zebrasoma scopas - Scopas tang Entacmaea quadricolor - BTA Tridacna derasa - Derasa clam 5 x Ceriths snails 10 x nass vibex snails 6 x Trochus snails Feather dusters Star polyps wozza's Aquarium Log

10-17-2006, 05:38 PM	#5
*Reefland* Owner Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Bardstown, KY Posts: 12,999	Watch the fish load in your tank, you have a lot going on in a 55 gallon already. I agree with the osmotic shock with the seastar, they are very, very delicate. __________________ Scott Z. 75 Gallon Reef Log Powered by Reefland's Personal Online Aquarium Log

10-17-2006, 11:57 PM	#6
marianelah New in Town Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 2	Salinity was at 1.020. That may have been the cause. Thanks everyone for your help. Lesson learned.

10-18-2006, 01:01 PM	#7
wozza Mayor Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: uk, devon Posts: 879	i think im right in saying this someone feel free to chime in and correct me, but you should slowly rise you salinity other wise you could shock your other tank inhabatants. cheers james __________________ 65 US gal system BLAU 150NW in-sump skimmer 150w giesemann pendent 17 kgs of live rock Amphiprion ocellaris - Ocellaris clownfish Amphiprion percula - Percula clownfish Centropyge bispinosus - Coral beauty Pseudocheilinus hexataenia - Six line wrasse Zebrasoma scopas - Scopas tang Entacmaea quadricolor - BTA Tridacna derasa - Derasa clam 5 x Ceriths snails 10 x nass vibex snails 6 x Trochus snails Feather dusters Star polyps wozza's Aquarium Log

12-29-2006, 11:22 AM	#8
Leonard Just Moved In Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Bali, Indonesia Posts: 31	i have starfish too. Maybe i can learn from other's experience...

12-29-2006, 01:02 PM	#9
kosys Tenant Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: canada Posts: 66	Yes I agree with Wossa you should definatly raise salinity natural ocean is usally around 1.025 - 1.026 and you would want try and mimic real nature best you can. I think 1.020 is to low. I also agree with Reefland thats alot goin on for 55 gal tank Ken

12-30-2006, 01:26 AM	#10
PDAJunkie Just Moved In Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 46	I would also recommend that you trade your mandrain in to your LFS for some credit or I'm afraid that you will have another death on your hands before long. A 3 month old tank will most likely not support a mandrain IMO. Please don't take this as a flame but it is very important that we know how to support our fish before we buy them. Good luck. __________________ ~ Richard My Reef Website

12-30-2006, 02:23 AM	#11
kosys Tenant Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: canada Posts: 66	Richard is correct the manderin dragonet will not survive in a three month old tank. The tank should be 8-9 months old at minimum, the tank needs a healthy copode population main staple for a manderin, or the manderin will starve to death. Ken

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