Holes in my serpent star

[Jenn]

I have had this serpent star for about 3 years and today he is out in the open and I notice that he has several holes in him and one of his tentacles has completely either been eaten off or has fallen off.
I can pretty much come to the conclusion that he is a goner, but does anyone have any ideas what this is and what may have caused it? Parameters are all in check and I just recently transferred everyone to another tank, but did it very slowly with special attention paid to temperatures and full acclimations.

Thanks,
Jenn :(

[hobogato]

i had a serpent disentegrate (sp?) transferring from one tank to another, i came to find out that the salinity was .001 higher in the new tank. i acllimated with a drip from air tubing for 20 minutes, but when i put it in the new tank, it fell apart within an hour. just an idea :wacko

[Jenn]

Wow, only .001 off - I guess that could be a reason. I don't have a digital salinity monitor, but guess its time for one. The weird thing is that he is still alive - even the leg that is no longer attached is still moving around! It just the sadest thing and I feel so helpless that there is nothing I can do at this point! :cry

[Jenn]

Oh yea, I have a harlequin and a solid black brittle that are just fine - and so is everyone else. Possibly an age issue? Does anyone know the life span of these guys? The books I have do not say.

[hobogato]

maybe all the parts will regenerate? i know this happens with other star fish.

[Jenn]

That would be great! I guess I need to get all these bristleworms away from it?

[hobogato]

Wow, only .001 off - I guess that could be a reason. I don't have a digital salinity monitor

me neither, i use the plastic box with the needle float (specific gravity). the original tank was 1.024 and the new one was 1.025.

[hobogato]

i woud try to isolate in in a piece of tupperware at the top of the tank with some holes poked in it for circulation. that way, if it does die after all it will be easier to get it out.

[Jenn]

Great idea, thanks.

[hobogato]

ive been thinking about this, and i remember seeing a serpent star at aquarium sales a long time ago, that had bristle worms eating it in the middle. it had a big hole in the middle and every time the star would regenerate, the bristle worms would eat the new growth. not that this will help you any, i just remembered this and thought it may somewhat explain what happened to yours. :huh