Why is my Chocolate Chip Starfish Dieing

[12ironaman]

Hey,
So I have had my starfish now for about 8 months and suddenly he is starting to disintegrate. Last week my blue damsel died but I did a water change right away and my brittle star is doing great right now. I still have my 10 gallon and my ammonia and nitrite levels are at 0 and the nitrate is around 20ppm as usual. Any ideas?
Thanks

 

[SJojo3377]

What is your salinity, temp, and what type of lighting do you use?

 

[12ironaman]

The salinity is 1.026. I use just sunlight with my blinds somewhat shut, and the temp is at 79F

 

[bjohanson1234]

I would suspect the nitrates. Starfish don't do well in high nitrates.

 

[SJojo3377]

Hmmmm so you don't use reef lighting? What about what do you feed your starfish and everyone else? How often?

 

[12ironaman]

Usually about twice a week with table shrimp. But it has been about 9 months with no reef lightning and has done great.

 

[bjohanson1234]

Reef lighting has nothing to do with the health of your starfish. You can get away with no lights on your tank unless you have light sensitive corals, clams, or anemones in there.

Since your nitrates are at 20, I suspect that as to why the starfish is disintegrating.

Another culprit could be stray voltage from a defective piece of equipment.

Identifying, Locating and Curing Stray Voltage in a Saltwater Aquarium

 

[Bifferwine]

The two most common culprits for starfish death are nitrates and stray voltage, as Beej said. Starvation is also common, but it seems your starfish has been getting enough to eat. (And starfish are not photosynthetic, so lighting doesn't matter :)).

 

[Smitty]

+1 Bj and Biff.

 

[12ironaman]

Hmmm. Well its a bummer cuz i am sure he is a goner but maybe there will be a miracle.
thanks

 

[12ironaman]

My starfish is still moving around normally but won't eat when I try to feed him and is still dissolving is there anything I can do other than water changes to help him.

 

[ccCapt]

Most likely starving to death. In nature their diet is soft corals, sponges, tubeworms, clams, shrimp and other starfish. I assume you haven't been feeding it any of those others besides the shrimp.

 

[12ironaman]

mostly shrimp and sometimes other frozen fish food.

 

[FishyReef]

Even if you do lose him, I'd still try to get your nitrates down and check for stray voltage in your tank so that you don't lose anything else