Blue Starfish

[Sea Turtle]

ok. The bad arm is getting all stringy at the end and looks like it is rotting. Also, it looks like some crabs might have picked at it a bit. Should I cut the arm off right up to the good part. The rest of the fish looks good. Could he handle this, or should I just leave him be? I thought that I have heard that it will heal quicker if you cut the bad part off.

Thanks

 

[Anonymous]

I have no experience with that, but, IF you decide to try it, put the animal in its own tank and start treating with a broad spectrum antibiotic. You'll probably want to do daily water changes, so I'd only use something of a few gallons.

I'd also ask Matt or Rich if they've ever had experience treating echinoderms this way. If I could remember.. I can't remember the name of the fellow I worked under at the coral lab at LBAOP, but you might also want to contact them, see if they'll give you the name of whoever's running it and ask there. Like I said, I saw animals brought back that I had pegged as goners. But, if you leave it where it is, I believe it won't survive, especially if it's being nibbled on.

 

[Sea Turtle]

He's getting really bad, and is clearly rotting away. I decided last night to remove him from the tank and put him into a treatment tank. I tried to get some antibiotics last night but all the stores were closed. I am going to get some this morning and add it to the water. Any suggestions before I begin this process? I kind of have the feling that he's already too far gone. I have tried fixing fish in the past this way and can't say that I have ever once been sucessfull.

Anyway, just going to add a broad spectrum antibiotic from PetCo and try to change the water daily.

"Now, this and the darn flame angel are driving me crazy"! Me and my big ideas to go outside the box! :x

 

[Anonymous]

Alright, best of luck! Keeping that water at highest quality is the most important thing.

 

[Sea Turtle]

Is Tetracycling what I want to use for this treatment?

 

[Anonymous]

Tetracycline may work, I believe it's a broad spectrum, though I don't remember specifically without searching. Read this: http://www.reefs.org/library/aquarium_n ... 996_1.html

 

[Sea Turtle]

Tetracycline may work, I believe it's a broad spectrum, though I don't remember specifically without searching. Read this: http://www.reefs.org/library/aquarium_n ... 996_1.html

Thanks. I just got back from the store. I purchased some ERYTHROMYCIN and added it to the nursing tank. I do have a few questions though.

Should I have the starfish in there with no sand just glass with a heater, full 5 gallons and a small Hydrokoralea to keep the water moving?

or

Should I have maybe 2 gallons, an air pump and heater with a little sand?

 

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't use sand, I'd keep it bare. I don't think the starfish will really know the difference and it's a lot easier to medicate and keep clean.

 

[Sea Turtle]

I wouldn't use sand, I'd keep it bare. I don't think the starfish will really know the difference and it's a lot easier to medicate and keep clean.

Will do. Thanks for the advice. I'll keep you posted. I have the feeling that he's too far gone already, but I'll keep trying until he's gone. I really hope this works. I have yet to save anything.

 

[Sea Turtle]

How will I know when the starfish is dead?

 

[Anonymous]

The central disc will be invaded by the necrosis. I get the feeling you think this is an exercise more than anything else, though. I'm not sure it's in any misery for you to put it out of. So, if you know someone with some harlequin shrimp, you might donate some tasty, though slightly off, starfish feet to them.

 

[Sea Turtle]

The central disc will be invaded by the necrosis. I get the feeling you think this is an exercise more than anything else, though. I'm not sure it's in any misery for you to put it out of. So, if you know someone with some harlequin shrimp, you might donate some tasty, though slightly off, starfish feet to them.

Should I just flush this guy and forget about it?

 

[Sea Turtle]

I've got more on my plate with this God Darn flame angel that I put into the tank. All my coral are all pulled in. I'm just watching this little f***'r swim around and pick at every coral one right after the next. I hate this hoby!

No, I'm just kid'n, I'm addicted to it. Just upset when thigs go awry. But, I guess if it was easy, everyone would do it. :lol: :x :x :x :x :x

 

[Sea Turtle]

:x

 

[Anonymous]

Whether or not you decide to give the thing more time is up to you, my friend. If the central disc is not invaded by necrosis, and I think that now you understand what we mean when we say things like that, and decay, rotted, then it's possible the necrosis could be stopped. I'm tempted to suggest using an extremely sharp and clean razor blade and just cutting the affected arm off, to the point where there is zero bad tissue (assuming you can do so without cutting into the disc). At this point, if you're thinking it's dead anyway, and you might want to try it, it won't hurt it to do so.

 

[Sea Turtle]

Whether or not you decide to give the thing more time is up to you, my friend. If the central disc is not invaded by necrosis, and I think that now you understand what we mean when we say things like that, and decay, rotted, then it's possible the necrosis could be stopped. I'm tempted to suggest using an extremely sharp and clean razor blade and just cutting the affected arm off, to the point where there is zero bad tissue (assuming you can do so without cutting into the disc). At this point, if you're thinking it's dead anyway, and you might want to try it, it won't hurt it to do so.

Thanks Seamaiden, I still think that it looks good in the center and the other two of tthe three remaining arm are ok. Maybe a razor blade would help. I changed the water this afternoon and alomost puked from the smell. :x It sure is alive still though. Maybe this antibiotic treatment will work. I'll keep at it because I hate to see anything die. Thanks for all your help and quick replies.

 

[Anonymous]

You're welcome.

 

[Sea Turtle]

I could be very wrong, but I think that the treatment is working. This morning I looked at the star fish. The wounds seem to have changed to a more white in color and seem to look like they are not as inflamed or aggressive as they were. I don't know what it will look like if it is actually getting better. Yesturday the rotted piece of the arm that was left was white and pink and just gross. It's now all white and doesn't seem to be spreading as quickly. This might be working.

 

[Anonymous]

Keep changing that stinky water! Lots and lots.

 

[Sea Turtle]

The star fish has passed. I came home last night and the house smelled like a dead person was in there. The start fish was covered with a grey slime and all his arms were getting grey at the tips. He was either completly dead or almost there. I put him on a tuperwear in the frezer for about 10 minutes and then flushed him. He wasn'r showing any sign of life. Also the center of him was turning grey also.

We tried. Thanks for your help SeaMaiden. It was much appreciated. I kinda had the feeling that it wouldn't work. Like I said, I have never been able to save anything once I have noticed a problem. :x Maybe I'll ttry one again soon. I think that I was set up for failure from the start by buying one that had a problem to begin with. I really don't know why I did that. :? To be honest, I didn't know the dificulty level of the star fish until I got him home and started to learn about them. I think the LFS guy took me for a fast one. :x