GimpKing Posted January 5, 2019 Share Posted January 5, 2019 Hi All, I woke up this morning and saw that my starfish looks like it has something growing out of it. I was wondering if it's injured or something? Any thoughts? 1 Quote Link to comment
Donny41 Posted January 5, 2019 Share Posted January 5, 2019 How long have you had it for? They are notorious for dying rather quickly. I had one for 5 months and it seemed to be doing fine until one day it started disintegrating. Hopefully not what is happening to yours. 1 Quote Link to comment
GimpKing Posted January 5, 2019 Author Share Posted January 5, 2019 Coincidentally, 5 months Quote Link to comment
GimpKing Posted January 5, 2019 Author Share Posted January 5, 2019 (edited) Here's another photo of whatever it is. Kinda looks like a snail she'll coming out. Edited January 5, 2019 by GimpKing Added more info 1 Quote Link to comment
RayWhisperer Posted January 5, 2019 Share Posted January 5, 2019 There are several species of snails that prey on starfish. Many attach as full size snails, some seem to bury themselves as juveniles then once they grow, they kinda burst out. There are limpets, too. However, one species has seems to match pretty closely to yours. Check out Parvioris fulvescence, it seems like a pretty close visual match. Beyond that, I can’t be sure of much. This page shows quite a few different parasitic species. http://echinoblog.blogspot.com/2014/06/p-is-for-parasitic-snail-enter-eulimidae.html 2 Quote Link to comment
GimpKing Posted January 5, 2019 Author Share Posted January 5, 2019 (edited) Thanks. This just fell out of it. Really creepy and looks like the one in that article. Edited January 6, 2019 by GimpKing More info And typo 1 Quote Link to comment
RayWhisperer Posted January 5, 2019 Share Posted January 5, 2019 It’s certainly a parasitic snail. What species I can’t be positive. I also don’t know if it reproduces inside, or outside the host animal. Not just that, it’s also possible there are other individuals within the animal. Just keep an eye out and remove any you find ASAP just to be safe. Quote Link to comment
Tamberav Posted January 5, 2019 Share Posted January 5, 2019 Crazy!!!! If it dies, I would not be in a hurry to replace it... I don't know of any that lasted a natural lifespan or even close in a nano tank. Quote Link to comment
GimpKing Posted January 6, 2019 Author Share Posted January 6, 2019 My daughter absolutely loves this little guy. But ultimately hopefully he does well and recovers. Here's the war wound. 2 Quote Link to comment
GimpKing Posted January 20, 2019 Author Share Posted January 20, 2019 The little starfish is doing well since this episode. 3 Quote Link to comment
mcarroll Posted February 8, 2019 Share Posted February 8, 2019 Just found this thread -- wow! Glad he's recovered too! :-) Quote Link to comment
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