Starfish Decline?

[CastAway]

Have heard that starfish are generally short lived, and typically in decline upon adding to a system. Avoided having one for a couple years, but, bought one several months ago.

Notice some decay recently.

Any advice?
Any hope for it?

View attachment 458204

 

[Griff]

Good luck I've been wanting to add a fromia to my tank.

 

[CastAway]

 

[Griff]

Doesn't look good. I was reading about them earlier today and once they start to lose a leg like that things go down hill quick. If it were me I wouldn't remove him just yet. How long has your tank been set up?

 

[CastAway]

Doesn't look good. I was reading about them earlier today and once they start to lose a leg like that things go down hill quick. If it were me I wouldn't remove him just yet. How long has your tank been set up?

Almost four years I think.

Bummed.

 

[Griff]

Well it's definitely established then. Everything I read said that no one really knows 100% what starfish feed on and that's why they decline. They also don't like ph changes. Have you ever fed him directly? Did he eat what you fed? Are you dosing anything for alk? If so did you dose to much at once or to close to the starfish?

 

[CastAway]

I've never fed it directly, nor have I seen it eat. I run a CA reactor, solid Alk and Ca, and a chronically low pH. I did have a small flood, maybe 8-9 gallons from 220 total, and some resulting salinity issues 1.026 to 1.024. This may have been coincident with its decline.

If it due to something I did, and I correct it, might it recover?