I've had a sand sifting starfish for about 3 months. He has been a happy little starfish that always moved about my tanks and kept my sand nice and white.
Within the last couple weeks I've noticed parts of his legs(?) disappearing. I didn't think much of it a first. I figured at first he got a couple caught under a rock or something and freed itself by losing the limb.
Anyway, it has gotten bad and he is now simply a very small starfish with just a center mass and no legs. I have an small green crab and a bunch of scralet hermit crabs but never see them bother it. I also have a dottyback and yellow tang but again don't see them give it any problem.
Any idea why this sort of thing might happen? Similiar experiences? Can someone suggest a another hardy species to clean/sift sand?
46 Gallon tank
3-4 inch sand bed
NI - 0
NA - 10
PH - 8.4
Calcium - 420
Am - 0
Phos - .1
Within the last couple weeks I've noticed parts of his legs(?) disappearing. I didn't think much of it a first. I figured at first he got a couple caught under a rock or something and freed itself by losing the limb.
Anyway, it has gotten bad and he is now simply a very small starfish with just a center mass and no legs. I have an small green crab and a bunch of scralet hermit crabs but never see them bother it. I also have a dottyback and yellow tang but again don't see them give it any problem.
Any idea why this sort of thing might happen? Similiar experiences? Can someone suggest a another hardy species to clean/sift sand?
46 Gallon tank
3-4 inch sand bed
NI - 0
NA - 10
PH - 8.4
Calcium - 420
Am - 0
Phos - .1