Gash on serpent starfish.

[Bryson.bobby]

I noticed during feeding today that my green serpent star has a huge “gash” in its disc. It seems to be eating like it normally would and can still move around fine. I don’t remember seeing this yesterday but it could have very well been there. What do you could have caused this?

Thanks in advance.

sorry for the bad image quality.

 

[Bryson.bobby]

Bump

 

[James M]

Could be anything. Fish, crabs, worms....

 

[Bryson.bobby]

Could be anything. Fish, crabs, worms....

You think some hermits could be munching on it? We had it for a few years now and seemed healthy up until now.

 

[Bryson.bobby]

You guys think I could try to break off an arm so it can asexually reproduce?

 

[James M]

They can. I would say just leave it and let it heal on it’s own. It’s eating and moving around fine

 

[Bryson.bobby]

They can. I would say just leave it and let it heal on it’s own. It’s eating and moving around fine

Ok, thanks for the advice. I hope it will heal itself over time. If it doesn’t heal I may try to have it reproduce asexually.

 

[Bryson.bobby]

It’s starting to breathe heavy and won’t go after food anymore. What’s the next step? Should I try to cut it in half or just leave it be?

 

[Bryson.bobby]

Update: wound is starting to heal and it’s eating again

 

[Stuartmercer]

They are very resilient creatures. Don't worry about it too much unless the gash gets larger over time. if that's the case then something could be eating it or its an infection from a cut.

 

[xxkenny90xx]

Yup, very resilient. I'd leave it alone. As far as cutting it in half I'm sure that will kill it. Mine have lost arms before and they still wiggle around for quite a while but I don't think they reproduce that way (someone correct me if I'm wrong)...

 

[Stuartmercer]

yeah I have a red one, lost all arms but still got around somehow

 

[Bryson.bobby]

Yup, very resilient. I'd leave it alone. As far as cutting it in half I'm sure that will kill it. Mine have lost arms before and they still wiggle around for quite a while but I don't think they reproduce that way (someone correct me if I'm wrong)...

Here is an article on how they asexually reproduce. I believe that they’re one of the only species of starfish that can.

https://animals.mom.me/brittle-starfish-reproduce-6551.html

 

[xxkenny90xx]

Very interesting, from what I've read today you need a large, very stable tank and nothing that will pick on the injured starfish. I personally wouldn't do it as I believe your starfish will recover from its gash (mine have recovered from some nasty injuries) but if you do then please post pics and keep us posted on your results

 

[Bryson.bobby]

Very interesting, from what I've read today you need a large, very stable tank and nothing that will pick on the injured starfish. I personally wouldn't do it as I believe your starfish will recover from its gash (mine have recovered from some nasty injuries) but if you do then please post pics and keep us posted on your results

I agree, it seems to be recovering very well. I started to worry when it stopped eating but it ate like a pig today. The gash is starting to heal and is only about half the size it was. At the moment I do not think I will doing surgery on it any time soon[emoji16]

 

[Bryson.bobby]

Looking much better!

 

[abreifmanup]

Update: wound is starting to heal and it’s eating again

What has it been eating ?

 

[Bryson.bobby]

What has it been eating ?

I feed it hermit crab pellets and the occasional frozen mysis shrimp.