Star fish loosing limb!

[MizTanks]

I've noticed my sand sifter had the tip of one arm missing and within the last few days it seems to have gotten worse. I've no predators so what could be doing this?

[AJ :)]

Could it be dying?

It looks so weird on the glass like that. Never seen ours off the sand.

[dputt88]

do you feed it directly at all?

[MizTanks]

Don't know if it's dying. No I don't target feed it. I tried once and it didn't go for the food.

[Rabidgoose]

I fear the worst Miz. They are very hard to keep long term and this could very well be a sign of it declining in health. I hope I am wrong tho.

good luck.....chuck

[Tom@HaslettMI]

I have to agree with Chuck.

My best guess is that it is not getting enough to eat and is either self-consuming or allowing "non-essential" parts of itself to die. The fact that its off of the sand bed suggests it's not getting the food it needs in the sand. The worst part is that once a starfish starts losing limbs or parts of limb it is a goner. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

Tom

[MizTanks]

Is it to late to return it? I've only had it a month

[ebushrow]

I def agree with needing food for this little guy. I have read that you should put the food on the sand bed and put the starfish right on top of it... See if this helps... You might be able to turn him around.... But stress and lack of food hit them very hard. GL

[MizTanks]

Ok well here's what I've hooked up for him tonight. First, will it eat the PE Mysis? This is the second time I've put an entire cube in within the last 5hrs. I haven't seen anything go into the (clear clam stand thats not being used as a stand) besides a cleaner shrimp and he took 1-2 shrimps and then left.
So hopefully the star is eating

[MizTanks]

Bump! Will he eat PE Mysis? His arm looks to be growing back