Adventures in Starfishing...

[BearLee]

~Scotty the SeaStar~
(He loves hanging out against the surface tension. And he LOVES chillin' in the return assembly.)

 

[shoelaceike]

Quick dumb question- in the past when I've acclimated starfish, I've tried to keep them from reaching their arms too much out of the water for fear of trapping air. Is this a real concern or if they're the ones moving their limbs above the surface of the water, air won't become trapped?

I did a water change last night and forgot about my fromia star high on the wall....he was out of water for about 15 minutes. He was all dry when I found him......I dropped him back in and he's as good as new

 

[Boesemani]

Stars are amazing. I really hope it goes well for you!

 

[fab]

Looking good, so far. Fromia Monilis is one of my two favorite stars. I have seen a lot of them when diving. Thanks for this thread. I am following.

 

[Steve Jones]

Ok. Home from work and the lights are on and he can be seen fully. Now to see if I can get him to eat.

 

[Steve Jones]

When I came home from work today at 4 PM he was still on the front glass - probably no more than 2 inches from where he was at 5 AM when I left. That worried me some. Then, in the last hour and a half, he's gone over almost every inch of the tank. So from a dead stand still for 10+ hours to "racing" around the tank. I guess he's ready to check out his new home and find some food? Tried to feed him - but couldn't really as he was on the vertical glass. Didn't want to dislodge him and add stress.

 

[erinmegan85]

Beautiful starfish!

 

[Goby-won]

Beauty! I added a starfish a week ago, and he was dead in a few days. Not sure what happened, but hermits were devouring him. Can hermits kill starfish for food? My tank is fallow as well due to ick treatment, but I am feeding pellets every other day. Just wondering as I don't want this to happen to you.

 

[Steve Jones]

Beauty! I added a starfish a week ago, and he was dead in a few days. Not sure what happened, but hermits were devouring him. Can hermits kill starfish for food? My tank is fallow as well due to ick treatment, but I am feeding pellets every other day. Just wondering as I don't want this to happen to you.

From what I understand, it is not unusual for starfish to die quickly. What type of starfish?

I don't think the hermits would have attacked. Did you feed him anything? Did he eat? Also, how long did you take to acclimate him to the tank? Any recent significant changes in pH? Salinity?

Also -are you treating the tank you put him in with any meds?

 

[Steve Jones]

Beautiful starfish!

Thanks.

 

[Steve Jones]

Four days in and he seems to be doing OK. Coloration is fine. He's moving and exploring the tank. Has only been on the tank's walls and mainly near the water line. Haven't been able to feed him since a he's vertical all the time. But he hasn't moved to the LR or sand where there's more to eat. Wondering if I should move him to the sand so I can place some meaty food next to him. Or would that be too much of a stressor?

 

[Tahoe61]

I would leave the star be for now.

I do not feed my Formia, but my tank has plenty of film algae.

 

[Roboson]

Is there anywhere in your tank where live rock touches the glass? Most starfish don't like going on sand (an exception being the sand sifting star).

If there's no connection I would suggest moving him to the live rock. If he resists and latches onto the glass hard, don't try to pry him off.

If that happens try adjusting some rock so that he will encounter it without leaving the glass.

 

[Steve Jones]

So one says leave him be on the glass. Another says put him on the rock. LOL That's what is so interesting and challenging about this hobby. o_O

 

[Tahoe61]

I can only tell how my Formica behaves, and that includes him crawling across the sand. See crawling across the sand.

 

[Roboson]

It looks like there is some kind of algae growing on your substrate. He's looking for food. A finer sand would make it difficult for him to walk.

 

[Boesemani]

I agree. Fromias don't normally just walk across the sand. They stay on the glass and rock work where their food is, so if it is constantly on the sand that means it can't find food anywhere else.

 

[Tahoe61]

The star fish is walking on the sand to get to the clam, as he often does, lots of yummies algae on the shell.

The point of my post was that I do not think there is any benefit to moving a starfish because one thinks that starfishes can not get to an area to feed. Most healthy starfish are able to move all over the tank, be it sand, rock or glass. Unless a starfish is occluding an overflow or in danger from a power head than just leave the starfish be.

 

[saltyhog]

Mine doesn't hesitate to cross the sand. He doesn't spend a lot of time on it but he goes across it regularly.

 

[Steve Jones]

After acclimation, I set the star on the sand. He's climbed up on the glass and been there (or on the back wall) of the tank ever since. At least whenever I see him. Where he goes at night or while I am at work I don't know. There isn't a lot of algae there. There is much more on the rocks. I just don't want him to starve on the glass when there is food on the rock.