Living Reefs > Reef Aquarium > Invertebrates > Lumps on Serpent Star

Reply
Thread Tools Rate Thread Display Modes

Lumps on Serpent Star

 
Reefer
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 12
Thanked: 0
iTrader: 0
 
      May 4th, 2011
I have had a serpent brittle star for a couple on months now. Every time I put food into my tank, the star would come out from wherever it was to feed. Lately however, it has become more sluggish. It didn't come out today when I fed the tank, and it appears to be slightly swollen. It also has bumps all over it's central part. Is this possibly a parasite or disease? Or is the star simply preparing to reproduce? It is hiding in the rocks right now so I cannot take a picture of it.

Thanks,
Chris

Current Aquarium(s) Description: 14 Gallon Biocube- Clown Fish, Firefish, Purple Firefish, Urchin, Serpent Star, 3 Corals
Experience in Saltwater & Reef Aquarium Hobby: 1.5 months
 
Reply With Quote
 
 
 
 
Super Moderator
little_fish's Avatar
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 15,713
Thanked: 2479
iTrader: 1
Images: 27
 
      May 5th, 2011
What are your nitrates at? Are you using tap water? Nitrates are toxic to inverts, and tap water also contain lots of toxic elements.

The other thing i would check for is stray voltage, they are very susceptible
Identifying, Locating and Curing Stray Voltage in a Saltwater Aquarium

Current Aquarium(s) Description: 46 gal tank
Experience in Saltwater & Reef Aquarium Hobby: since August '10
 
Reply With Quote
 
 
 
 
Reefer
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 12
Thanked: 0
iTrader: 0
 
      May 5th, 2011
I have had my aquarium for about 6 months now, and I have always performed a water change once every other week using RO/DI salt water from a local store. I performed a water change last week, so my nitrates are at an OK level.

Current Aquarium(s) Description: 14 Gallon Biocube- Clown Fish, Firefish, Purple Firefish, Urchin, Serpent Star, 3 Corals
Experience in Saltwater & Reef Aquarium Hobby: 1.5 months
 
Reply With Quote
 
Super Moderator
little_fish's Avatar
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 15,713
Thanked: 2479
iTrader: 1
Images: 27
 
      May 5th, 2011
For inverts, ok level is zero. If they are higher than that, even 10 ppm, it is fatal to them, especially if they are exposed over a long period of time.

Current Aquarium(s) Description: 46 gal tank
Experience in Saltwater & Reef Aquarium Hobby: since August '10
 
Reply With Quote
 
Reefer
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 12
Thanked: 0
iTrader: 0
 
      May 5th, 2011
Do you know what could possibly cause the lumps on the top of the serpent star? Before, the top of the star was a smooth dome-like shape. Now it has several bumps on the top of it, and it has been sluggish.

Current Aquarium(s) Description: 14 Gallon Biocube- Clown Fish, Firefish, Purple Firefish, Urchin, Serpent Star, 3 Corals
Experience in Saltwater & Reef Aquarium Hobby: 1.5 months
 
Reply With Quote
 
Super Moderator
little_fish's Avatar
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 15,713
Thanked: 2479
iTrader: 1
Images: 27
 
      May 5th, 2011
Expose to nitrates or some other toxin, or stray voltage

Current Aquarium(s) Description: 46 gal tank
Experience in Saltwater & Reef Aquarium Hobby: since August '10
 
Reply With Quote
 
Reefer
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 12
Thanked: 0
iTrader: 0
 
      May 5th, 2011
Good News! It appears as though the serpent has indeed spawn new serpent stars. There is one about an inch long with a tiny disc in the center. Never knew that would happen.

Current Aquarium(s) Description: 14 Gallon Biocube- Clown Fish, Firefish, Purple Firefish, Urchin, Serpent Star, 3 Corals
Experience in Saltwater & Reef Aquarium Hobby: 1.5 months
 
Reply With Quote
 
Super Moderator
little_fish's Avatar
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 15,713
Thanked: 2479
iTrader: 1
Images: 27
 
      May 5th, 2011
They dont spawn new serpent stars that way. What you are most likely seeing are micro brittle stars, they are common, but secretive hitch hikers.

Current Aquarium(s) Description: 46 gal tank
Experience in Saltwater & Reef Aquarium Hobby: since August '10
 
Reply With Quote
 
I am a girl
Bifferwine's Avatar
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Lynnwood, WA and missing Tucson, AZ
Posts: 46,949
Thanked: 5802
iTrader: 0
Images: 34
 
      May 5th, 2011
Do you have a picture of these lumps?

 
Sarah
><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º>¸.
·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º>

Current Aquarium(s) Description: Recently Retired from Tanks
Experience in Saltwater & Reef Aquarium Hobby: 12 years
 
Reply With Quote
 
BL1
.............
BL1's Avatar
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: TN, USA
Posts: 7,777
Thanked: 1311
iTrader: 0
 
      May 5th, 2011
My serpents look like they have bumps in them when they eat something big.

 
~Brian

Current Aquarium(s) Description: 75g Mixed Reef
Experience in Saltwater & Reef Aquarium Hobby: 2+ years
 
Reply With Quote
 
 
 
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Serpent star pheasant29 Invertebrates 10 July 26th, 2010 05:58 PM
Serpent sea star supernatureal Invertebrates 6 April 12th, 2010 12:48 AM
How to catch my serpent star ? Sxybeemr325 Invertebrates 2 December 7th, 2009 12:14 AM
Blue leg hermits Vs. Serpent star kelly Reef Fishes 9 November 2nd, 2009 06:13 AM
emerald crab and serpent star issues standingstill Invertebrates 3 April 15th, 2009 02:15 PM