My Banded Brittle Star died..

[ssunthar]

Hi Experts, found my banded brittle star (been in the tank for over 3 years) dead today... not very sure why. Could it be due to old age? Thanks.

 

[CMMorgan]

Oh, I'm sorry for the loss. I lost my red brittle star about a year after I took over the tank. Circle of life?

 

[ssunthar]

Oh, I'm sorry for the loss. I lost my red brittle star about a year after I took over the tank. Circle of life?

Yup... will start looking for a replacement. But i am curious to know what could be the cause.. it seemed a hardy creature.

 

[CMMorgan]

Yup... will start looking for a replacement. But i am curious to know what could be the cause.. it seemed a hardy creature.

Couldn't say without parameters. In my case, it was eating well.... seemed active... went into hiding for a few days and then I found it missing limbs. I never replaced mine but I will eventually.

 

[Vette67]

I have had mine for close to 10 years. It always hides under the same rock and I assume it scavenges for food, because I never directly feed it. It was my understanding that they live almost forever. I would think it would take a drastic parameter swing to cause one to die, because they seem pretty tolerant and not particularly sensitive to minor swings. Although my tank has pretty stable parameters, and I would assume after several years, yours would too.

No major parameter swings that you’re aware of? No big fish died or anything like that?

 

[ssunthar]

Couldn't say without parameters. In my case, it was eating well.... seemed active... went into hiding for a few days and then I found it missing limbs. I never replaced mine but I will eventually.

Hope it is still there re-growing those missing limbs.

 

[ssunthar]

I have had mine for close to 10 years. It always hides under the same rock and I assume it scavenges for food, because I never directly feed it. It was my understanding that they live almost forever. I would think it would take a drastic parameter swing to cause one to die, because they seem pretty tolerant and not particularly sensitive to minor swings. Although my tank has pretty stable parameters, and I would assume after several years, yours would too.

No major parameter swings that you’re aware of? No big fish died or anything like that?

Ya.. my parameters are in check... no major swings. Only had an incident of my chiller suddenly jumped up and down and before I noticed the temperature went down to 20°C.. it took me more than 60mins to bring it back to the desired 26°C.... could that had caused it?

 

[N.Sreefer]

Apparently in the wild they have an approx lifespan of 5 years and theres no formal study on lifespan in captivity. So anyone wanting to experiment theres one for ya! Would need one big study population and control group however.

 

[ssunthar]

Apparently in the wild they have an approx lifespan of 5 years and theres no formal study on lifespan in captivity. So anyone wanting to experiment theres one for ya! Would need one big study population and control group however.

A great idea..

 

[SquidwardTentacles05]

I have had mine for close to 10 years. It always hides under the same rock and I assume it scavenges for food, because I never directly feed it. It was my understanding that they live almost forever. I would think it would take a drastic parameter swing to cause one to die, because they seem pretty tolerant and not particularly sensitive to minor swings. Although my tank has pretty stable parameters, and I would assume after several years, yours would too.

No major parameter swings that you’re aware of? No big fish died or anything like that?

Are those arms that have fell off?

 

[Vette67]

Are those arms that have fell off?

You know, I haven’t seen it in a while so I’m not sure anymore. Picture was from 4 years ago. At the time I posted that picture, it was definitely alive. The rock that it used to hide under is now covered by a branching frogspawn, so it certainly could still be under there somewhere.