Catch a baby brittle star (?)

[denny_C]

sure its not a serpent star?

[tlhood]

I don't know what it is to be honest. I was going on trust. Here is a thread from when I found the bugger.


http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/sho...d.php?t=103968

[tlhood]

Update: Whatever creepy star was, it appears to be dead. I took a turkey baster and pumped air through all the holes in the rock, and he came shooting out the other side. Only 1 and 1/2 of his legs are still coloured, the rest are white. I don't know if he kicked the bucket a long time ago or not. Either way, I don't need to worry about him anymore.

Mr. Shrimp is still hovering around in the sand, eating. Long legs still not working... Put an air stone in the tank to help keep water moving a bit while pumps are off.

[reefwars]

Brittle stars are harmless.

Bring a water sample to concept and get it tested

Any fish in your tank?

[tlhood]

Originally Posted by reefwars

Brittle stars are harmless.

Bring a water sample to concept and get it tested

Any fish in your tank?

A yellow watchman goby
Purple Firefish
2 black clowns
5 Hermits
4 Astrea
5 Nerite
1 cerith
1 Nassarius
1 Porcelain crab

Clowns have been in for probably a month. Firefish and Goby around 2 weeks.

No crabs or snails have gone missing. All fish look good.

Mr. Shrimp is kicking 2 legs around, and bounced toward some sea weed I put at the front of his cave, however still can't use his entire right side.

[ScubaSteve]

And just to make sure, you're not dosing any chemicals or anything? Did you use silicone anywhere and are you sure it was the right kind of silicone?

What you are describing sounds like a chemical problem. Magnesium Sulphate, which people dose to raise mag levels, is a paralytic to inverts and can cause the paralysis you are describing (which can lead to suffocation and death). Petroleum distillates, that are added to silicone as an anti-mildew agent, can have the same effect.

Can you think of any chemicals that have been in or around the tank?

Definitely take the water in to Concept and have it looked at. I'd be gearing up for a water change in any case.

[tlhood]

Originally Posted by ScubaSteve

And just to make sure, you're not dosing any chemicals or anything? Did you use silicone anywhere and are you sure it was the right kind of silicone?

What you are describing sounds like a chemical problem. Magnesium Sulphate, which people dose to raise mag levels, is a paralytic to inverts and can cause the paralysis you are describing (which can lead to suffocation and death). Petroleum distillates, that are added to silicone as an anti-mildew agent, can have the same effect.

Can you think of any chemicals that have been in or around the tank?

Definitely take the water in to Concept and have it looked at. I'd be gearing up for a water change in any case.

I have not used silicone, and the only thing I put in the tank recently was a reef probiotic booster I got from Pisces. I haven't dosed any chemicals. The only thing I changed today was my carbon filter.