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Starfish attacked

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by RRfish, Mar 28, 2013.

  1. Mar 28, 2013 #1
    RRfish

    RRfish Inactive User

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    I have a 29 gallon biocube that is 1 year old. Soft corals, live rock and sand.


    2 clownfish


    1 six-lined wrasse


    1 blue chromis


    1 royal gramma


    various hermit crabs


    various snails


    I added a sand-sifting starfish last month. It seemed to be doing fine, but this morning I find it on the sand and a white legged hermit crab eating away. I removed it from the tank and it still moves around. I don't have another mature tank to keep it in.


    Is this a common problem with the hermit crabs? Ideas?
     
  2. Mar 28, 2013 #2
    nickbuol Marion, IA

    nickbuol Here fishy, fishy, fishy...

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    Marion, IA
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    I just did some google searching and it seems that some others had similar problems, but almost always they were discovering that the starfish was actually starving and as its limbs were dying off, the hermits would munch on them.

    I was about ready to throw those pesky hermits under the bus since they are very opportunistic, but this might be something to look into.


    Just a thought until others have time to offer other ideas.
     
  3. Mar 28, 2013 #3
    mthomp

    mthomp Inactive User

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    A 29 gal tank is no place for a sand sift star. It would probably strip the sand bed in an hour
     
  4. Mar 28, 2013 #4
    bobsfish

    bobsfish Experienced Reefkeeper

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    .....which means it is likely starving ...limbs dying ...hermits feasting on flesh
     
  5. Mar 28, 2013 #5
    RRfish

    RRfish Inactive User

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    i took the starfish to the LFS and they have a mature tank that they will see if it can recover.
    Its disappointing that the FS in Des Moines where I bought this didnt bother to mention anything about a 29 gallon being too small for this animal. I will have to do a better job of research instead of counting on an honest answer.
     
  6. Mar 28, 2013 #6
    bobsfish

    bobsfish Experienced Reefkeeper

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    Yeah, I know I've been burned a few times by bad advice from a LFS. Over the years, I've learned which of the employees "actually" know what they're talking about and who doesn't have a clue.

    I'm glad to see that you caught it in time and took action.
     

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