Urgent Starfish disintegrating

You sure thats a SSS? Looks more like a fromia (marble) to me?

Marble Starfish, Elegant Starfish - Fromia elegans

 

The legs on the one op posted looks much thicker than the marble. The one I had and have seen were all pretty flat bodied.

 

There are many different types of Formia. A lot you rarely see in the trade.

Not my image, but ID'd as a Formia.


It's hard to nail down exact specifics regarding their diet, one common items regarding their nutrition is that is may be composed of both film algae and bacterial matrix found within the sand and on exposed surfaces.

Over time a 29 gallon aquarium will not provide enough of either. Like sand sifters over time they will mow down all the flora and fauna available and slowly starve. While there are always exceptions, it's never surprising when I see a thread titled " my starfish is melting" the exceptions are not the rule when it comes to starfish.

 

Looks like a formia, a tile. Not a sand sifting star, different arm shapes and color pattern. IMO, they are kinda sensitive when being moved. If its damaged during transport they can go down very quickly.

And a 29g is enough space for lone sand starfish. We've got about 20 or so in a clients 60g going on 3 yrs.

 

Yea, that pic is identical to the one I have. Must be a formia. I'd really like to keep him. Not too much in the 29g right now besides him, a few crabs, a mandarine goby, a couple snails (sp?.. always buried in the sand until I put food in), and a sea hare that took care of a bad green hair algae episode. It would be too difficult to break down the setup and add a thick layer of sand on top of the substrate I already have. Would this do any harm if done properly? Also, do you think the sea hare being in there for so long (2 months) may have starved the starfish?

 

I doubt the sea-hare had much to do with the starfish disintegrating.

 

or a fighting conch.

 

Thank you, Cheryl... I stand corrected.

 

Hello

I have just a few questions, what is you filtration like?

what is you salinity?

what are you parmaters nitrates,nitrites,phophates,ext.?

a complete stocking list of most of the CUC and fishies?

going to try to help as best I can and hope he make it ;D

 

yup. I prefer the conches myself, they are a lot more fun