Dead starfish

[VanusCor]

I have a serpent starfish that always stays under rocks. I haven’t seen him in a month. I’m pretty sure it’s dead under there. It might not be related but It’s right were a fire shrimp also hangs out. If it’s dead does it really need to be removed? That would require a major rock scape removal to get to it. I’m wondering if the shrimp ate it.

 

[RWhitt907]

If you've got Hermit crabs I wouldn't worry about it. If it already died they probably ate it.

 

[VanusCor]

I added red legged hermits a week ago. Thanks. That makes me feel better.

 

[SudzFD]

I have a serpent starfish that always stays under rocks. I haven’t seen him in a month. I’m pretty sure it’s dead under there. It might not be related but It’s right were a fire shrimp also hangs out. If it’s dead does it really need to be removed? That would require a major rock scape removal to get to it. I’m wondering if the shrimp ate it.

No it doesn’t. If it died, it has decomposed long ago. Just like in nature a dead fish or invert will be broken down very very quickly. Sometimes in just a day or two depending on your cleanup crew and amount of liveliness in your live rock.

I remove stuff if I see it, but I typically don’t notice in time.