Starfish question(s)...

[Humblefish]

Wait - my DT is still going fallow for two more weeks (ie: no fish in it!). If I acclimate, rinse off in bucket with DT water and place in DT, there are no fish in there for 2 more weeks. So wouldn't that kill off / starve any ich? The starfish would have the DT to itself for 2 weeks (plus inverts).

This actually solves the problem, just put the starfish right on in the DT. No rinsing needed! :) Any theronts that happen to hitchhike in will die after 48 hrs anyway, because they will find no fish to feed upon to continue the life cycle.

 

[Steve Jones]

This actually solves the problem, just put the starfish right on in the DT. No rinsing needed! :) Any theronts that happen to hitchhike in will die after 48 hrs anyway, because they will find no fish to feed upon to continue the life cycle.

Woo hoo! Finally one good thing about going fallow for 76 days! :D

 

[dbl]

Woo hoo! Finally one good thing about going fallow for 76 days! :D

Silver linings my friend, silver linings! This is a great little thread you started here and will hopefully prove helpful for some future starfish keepers.

 

[EmmaG]

When tested (credit to Peter Burgess - see below), ich tomonts were found to be incapable of encysting to Asteria starfish & Echinus urchins. However, it is very possible that free swimming theronts could be in a droplet of water on the starfish. Putting the starfish in a bucket for 48 hrs would mitigate this threat, as the theronts will die without a fish host to feed upon. Or you could just pour some tank water over the starfish (and into a bucket for the water to be discarded) prior to placing in your DT, to "wash away" any theronts. ;)

A plane can also crash into your house and kill the starfish as well

 

[Humblefish]

A plane can also crash into your house and kill the starfish as well

Wha wha what? :confused:

 

[Steve Jones]

I think someone thinks we are too paranoid / obsessive in the steps taken to acclimate the starfish. Or she just has a bizarre and dark sense of humor.

 

[domination2580]

I've had my tiger stripe serpents star for over a year now. Drip acclimation is all that's needed.

 

[Humblefish]

I think someone thinks we are too paranoid / obsessive in the steps taken to acclimate the starfish.

I often meet up with those folks again in the fish disease forum. :p You're smart to cross every t and dot every i, my friend. :)