dead starfish?

Question

I bought a starfish the other day and he died 2 days later. I have fish hermit crabs and small starfish. could he have died from the salt water not being at the right ph or too many nitrates?

Answer 1

It may not have been anything you did. Some sea stars (and other marine inverts & fish) I've seen in stores aren't that healthy. Depending on where you live and how long the store had it, it could have been exposed to high nitrates during long shipping or in the store, cold shipping temps, wrong salt concentration, or may have been injured when collected. If your other animals are okay, I wouldn't worry, but you should check your pH, salinity, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. If these are within normal range (pH = 8.1-8.4, salinity = 1.024-1.026, ammonia = 0, nitrites = 0, and nitrates as low as possible) I say you were unlucky with the sea star.

Also, some species of sea stars are not suitable for marine tanks - they can have very specific diets that as a keeper you can't meet.

You also don't say what size tank you have. Sea stars need a lot of space, so it's best not to have more than 1-2 per tank, even if you have a very large tank:

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/scateg.cfm?pCatId=528
http://www.tropicalfishoutlet.com/InvertSubCategory.asp?InvertCategoryID=12

Answer 2

First of all how old is your tank? I cannot stress enough, invertabreas CANNOT be added to a salt tank until the tank has been running for more than 6 months. This also goes for higher end fish. Salt water is not like fresh water. A salt tank cycles in about 6 weeks. However only a mature tank can house inverts.
I hope you have removed him from the tank. His dead body is equal to the rotting mass of a 5 oz piece of meat or a 16 oz can of fish flakes rotting.

The biological process for breaking down ammonia works differenly in salt. Colonies of the good bacteria are pleantiful for damsels and dominos but not for triggers tangs sweetlips starfish or anemoies. Inverts require specifics when it comes to water quality and bacteria. These levels in a salt tank are usually not done producing maximum amounts for around 6 months.

Also what kind of star fish do you have? Is it a flock or are they different?

You have to ask yourself when making decisions, particularly about unfamiliar or notorious livestock for your aquarium, "Do I have an adequate understanding of its needs?" Are you likely to succeed in keeping it for its potential natural lifespan? Do you currently have the means (adequate tank size, age and continuous food source) for keeping it, and not merely the hope of improvement, such as a bigger tank, one day? There are other ways to contemplate such purchases; such as, "Is my purchase a conscientious use of this animal?"

Most starfish never make the trip from harvest to the supplier, and less likely from the supplier to the household. These are very delicate animals...with special requirements. Even though they are bottom feeders, they need fed. One star per tank unless your tank is 100 or better. Or you are direct feeding it. Star fish usually starve to death in tanks because most people take it for granted they eatwhat is on the rocks and glass. This is such a myth. They need to be feed as well.

You have no idea of knowing how long this fish was sitting at the suppliers or at the store. This is why most starfish die quickly. I always urge new salt keepers to stear clear of the starfish until they understand the requirements for keeping them.

Asteroid Sea Stars - classic body "Starfish" are the most harty and can withstand varing changes without harm. Other varieties are not so lucky. They are very sensetive to water quality, nitrates ammonia etc.

Before purchasing another one:
Identify the species, needs and suitability before purchasing. Know the habits and habitats.
Be strategic on selection. Avoid impulse purchases Avoid Crinoids and resist keeping Asteroidscasually or in young or smaller aquaria less than 1 year old
Target feed several times a week.

PH should be around 8 give or take a point.

Answer 3

it could be both, but you could look it up at the site below. It also depends on what type it was, all starfish require moderate care, but some are hard to keep and very sensitive to their water.

Answer 4

sea stars need to be aclamated very slowly and for a good 2 hours or more. (I find dripping the best for this)
They should not be exposed to air while removing or putting them in an aquarium.
I have had several different sea stars in several different tanks and have had no problem when handling like this.