Sorry, I have another issue- starfish looks bad

[WtksBlondie104]

I have a blue linkia starfish. I just got it 2 days ago. I was unaware that it needed to be acclimated since I only learned it by reading just now. But today I noticed that it was hanging limply on the back of my cave. When I picked up the cave to look at it, it seems like the bottom of one of the legs had almost fallen off or something. It has a few sections of it that is white, and almost look like cuts. Is something in the tank picking at it, or is this a sign that there is something far worse going on in my tank?? What can I do to help it??

Should I take this starfish back to the store?

[Dirt4dinner]

Sorry to hear that Heather. Linkia will die without proper acclimation. I just had it happen, and I acclimated mine for nearly 2 hours, it died 2 days later. Same symptoms as yours. A leg fell off and the middle of him looked like a big blister. It's a bacterial infection and you need to remove it from your tank so it doesn't contaminate. Those linkias are a tough item to keep!

[WtksBlondie104]

What do I do with it? Will it live if I take it back to the store? Is there any way to medicate it? I was so excited about having this addition to my tank. Can someone tell me why it is having this problem? Does that mean there is something wrong with my water?

[Dirt4dinner]

You can try that....but I am sure they will realize it was an acclimation issue. If you have only had it a few days, I would carefully bag it up (don't let it hit any air, so put the bag in the water and get it in the bag that way). Then bring it back to the store and tell them you are worried about it's well being and see what they say. Good luck. -Tyler

[Reef_Angel]

We had no luck with having a linkia star either. He disappeared in good health amongst the reef scape and we've never seen him again. All I can say is that the hermits & other members of our cleanup crew did a heck of a job with it's remains because we never noted any changes in our water tests that would indicate a death in the tank. He was a big guy too. At the LFS last week we noticed they had all the linkia's in the back room... kind of out of sight. They all were dying or dead. Pitiful! Sorry for your problems with yours. I hope the store will do something for you!

[Sweetpea]

I'm sorry to hear about your star, Heather.

[WtksBlondie104]

Is it dead? Will it really contaminate the tank? Does anyone know what could have caused it? I have since taken it out of the tank and put it in a seperate holding container until I can find out something.

[Dirt4dinner]

Heather,
It may not be dead at this point, but I was told that "bacterial infections" are common among this species in captivity. The infection literally eats away at the Linkia. My linkia was TINY, about a half dollar at best, it went quickly. When I removed it from my tank it had already dropped a limb and was falling apart, but it appeared to be holding to the glass under it's own power. In a 6 gallon tank I can't take risks like that, a dead animal in my tank means death to all inhabitants if not caught quickly. I would keep a very close eye on him. I really hope he can pull through, but I don't think there is much reversal of this infection. Keep us posted, and take more pictures as it things get better or worse...HOPEFULLY BETTER! Good luck. -DIRT

[carpenterwrasse]

from what ive experienced starfish are a funny critter one mommet they are happy going across your rocks cleaning the next you never see them again...I wish my serpent would let me take his picture...He has lost all but 2 legs and a good portion of his center but he keeps truging around the tank...you can actually see through his body if he is in the right position...kinda cool...My other one did the same thing about 6 months agohe only lost 2 legs though he is fine....I read somewhere that a salinity change stresses them and the rop their legs to compensate...how true that is i have no idea....

[lReef lKeeper]

you guys should see my choc.chip star (in FOWLR tank). he is busted up but still he keeps going (like the Energizer Bunny). he got a "new salt burn" about a year ago, and had it rough for about 2 months. now he is what i call "my SUPER TROOPER".