Something is chopping off my starfish arms!

[Norstar]

A few months ago, I lost a starfish to some creature that was systematically chopping its arms off one at a time. Now its happening to my other starfish. I have a few hermit crabs, tangs, nigger trigger, and a clown fish. Nothing that I would assume would enjoy chopping off starfish arms. In fact, the arms are not being eaten, just left behind. I usually happens in the middle of the night.

Any ideas?

[Leah]

Perhaps it is not getting enough to eat or could be reproducing. Hard to say, but does not sound good!

[gobytron]

More than likely, this is your starfish starving to death....

Do some research into it, you'll see in less established tanks (and even very mature systems) many echinoderms simply starve over time.

It can last months or days.

[MMAX]

A while ago I put in a sand sifting star without properly acclimatizing him. He proceeded to drop off his arms one at a time then went to the big sand bed in the sky.

[Norstar]

Whoa. Had no idea. It's a well established tank. I'll look into it. Thanks all!