Blue Starfish

[t1771]

I was given a blue starfish from my boyfriend as part of my Christmas present. I think it's a linckia laevigata, but I'm not 100% sure. I was real nervous b/c I know they're hard to keep and my boyfriend just meant well. I acclimated him for 2 and a half hours, drip method. He seemed to be doing great. Hiding during the day coming out at night. I just came home from being away for the night and found a leg detached, but still moving. Looks like there is a whitish/cotton spot. Now I know this probably isn't a good sign...my quesiton is, should I take him out of the tank and setup his own quarantine or let him be and see if he regrows his leg? Help

I'm going to feel horrible if this poor thing dies!

 

[RayD]

The leg will grow back. Takes a really long time but they do re-generate their extremities.

Here's an example and as you can see I'm going through the same thing.

You can leave him in the tank and keep an eye on him.

Good luck ...

 

[reeferpj]

did it have 5 legs

 

[gobie1313]

I bought one 4 weeks ago, and the same thing happened to me. It lost it leg

 

[gobie1313]

The leg walked around on it's own for a while(really creeped me out). After that i never saw the starfish again. I looked all over and it must have died because my nitrate level spiked. I would QT it for a little while, unless you know you will be able to locate it if it does die. My tank is a 125 and 150#LV,
so it wasnt easy to relocate the dead starfish. Good luck.

 

[t1771]

Thanks everyone. The starfish did have 5 legs when he arrived. The leg walking around is definitely creepy, but the white cotton looking spots are gone, so I'm thikning (hoping) it's ok. As for the rest of the body, it's still moving around and it doesn't appear to be getting skinny or anything. I'm going to hope for the best. Thanks again.