What is eating my star's legs?

[DracoKat]

thanks, I will leave him alone. I wanted to put him into the sump where no fish or other critters bother him.

and ugh, I hope it's not a virus! does it hurt anything else, or just sea stars?

 

[recess62]

It can infect urchins and sand dollars as well. The article is an interesting read for those of us Science nerds

My stars dissolved right under my eyes. It was impressive how quickly it killed the poor creature.

 

[_Alex_]

Hmm never seen or had that before except with linkia stars

 

[DracoKat]

My urchin is fine. had him for over a year between the two tanks. he's active and moving around still.

 

[recess62]

Hmm never seen or had that before except with linkia stars

According to the researchers they were able to isolate the virus from bristle stars urchins and sand dollars

I suspect that some lfs have the virus in their systems and are unaware

 

[DracoKat]

that would stink! How fast from contact with the virus do they succumb?

 

[recess62]

I don't know the incubation time. However once I noticed there was something wrong the star was gone in 2-3 days

 

[DracoKat]

they do go down fast, huh? I had a serpent star that lived for over a year.. suddenly turned all white and fell apart within a week

 

[DracoKat]

I just wanted to update.. after thinking I had lost him, he came out during feeding! He has little baby legs and is quite speedy considering! I feel like the body grew a bit too. Hardy little sucker.
Since he's holding his own and healing nicely, I decided to leave him in the DT and not put him in the sump.

I just wanted to share my excitement that my "kraken" is alive and doing well! (no one else would understand but you guys, lol)

 

[bios]

Happy to know it
....just for information for starfishes generally a great stress si the way they are placed in a tank
Mouth must be pointing up( for air bubbles)

 

[Macdaddynick1]

I wonder if it's starving and eating its own legs?

yup thats what mine does if i ever forget to feed it .

There is a virus that affects serpent stars. This virus causes the limbs to melt away over the course of a week or so. There is no cure and the star dies

http://www.virology.ws/2014/11/17/a-virus-that-melts-sea-stars/

I have had 2 sea stars disappear. Apparently once you have this in your tank you can never get rid of it

I don't think that affects serpents, but this just gave me an idea of why any regular star i put in my tank starts melting after a day or two. even with all the proper acclimation.