Emergency! New used tank set up- star fish is oozing?!

[ReefGirlSara]

I'm not sure if this is even a bad thing, but it doesn't seem like a good thing. I just bought a 90 gallon tank from a guy, one of the creatures in the tank right now is a star fish that looks kinda like a chocolate chip, but it's like purple with red tips. I am right now in the process of setting up the tank,we have it about half way full of water. The salinity is the same as the old water and the temp is about the same they were used to- 76 degrees. This star was the only thing in the tank while we were adding water- and he kept crawling to the top of the water, and coming almost completely out of the water, then we noticed while he was most of the way out of the water that white ooze is coming out of the top of him- all over.

Please tell me if this is bad- is the new water shocking him? Do they just do this? Is this white ooze toxic?

Please Help!!

[ReefGirlSara]

the white ooze is kinda snot like, and solid white- like white out, and it's coming out in between each leg on the top of its body- the guy that sold me the tank said he never had anyone ID it

[LegendLand]

i could be toxins, do not put your bare hands in the water just yet. is he still moving around?

[ReefGirlSara]

yes, he's moving, and doesn't look too bad. I took him out with a net, and put in a small bucket, the wate rin bucket is all white now

[LegendLand]

post some pictures, it sounds serious

[ReefGirlSara]

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc65/sararuder/IMG_3629.jpg

[ReefGirlSara]

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc65/sararuder/IMG_3628.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc65/sararuder/IMG_3627.jpg

[ReefGirlSara]

oh yeah, I forgot to mention the snowflake eel, or chain eel or whatever he is. He was swimming around very energetically, but now he's just hiding in the live rock. I need to add the fish that came with the tank- but I'm nervous to do that now. Plus, I have to get up for work in a few hours...

[ReefGirlSara]

I used some old water from the tank, some RO water, and some well water, mixed with instant ocean salt. I haven't done anything weird to the tank. My well water is very good quality. I don't know what went wrong, and if the fish are going to die when I put them in...the snowflake eel seems ok, but not so energetic

[LegendLand]

unless those white spots are severe cuts, i have to go with toxins, released due to stress. after the tank is full, put him back in, the waters really un-clear at the moment wich can stress them out too. but whatever you do, dont get the toxin on your hands. im not 100% sure it is toxin, but ill bet on it ;)

[ReefGirlSara]

Do starfish put out waste like this? My only experience w/starfish is sand sifting and brittles- and I've never seen them do anything like this

[LegendLand]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10973486#post10973486 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ReefGirlSara
I used some old water from the tank, some RO water, and some well water, mixed with instant ocean salt. I haven't done anything weird to the tank. My well water is very good quality. I don't know what went wrong, and if the fish are going to die when I put them in...the snowflake eel seems ok, but not so energetic

do water tests on that well water after mixing the salt. excess minerals could cause stress & bad water quality

[ReefGirlSara]

will it hurt the other fish?

[LegendLand]

if the well water contains Acid Rain or excess or unwanted minerals from the ground, yes. RO water is the only water that should be used. Acid Rain is a very high risk in a small aquarium.

[ReefGirlSara]

I have tested it before, and have used it maybe 2-3 times to top off my reef tank when I was out of RO, I think it's ok. Before I took the starfish out, I think about 1 ml of the white stuff got in the tank- think this will be ok?

[LegendLand]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10973504#post10973504 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ReefGirlSara
I have tested it before, and have used it maybe 2-3 times to top off my reef tank when I was out of RO, I think it's ok. Before I took the starfish out, I think about 1 ml of the white stuff got in the tank- think this will be ok?

small trace amounts should not hurt fish

[ReefGirlSara]

no, i meant will the white liquid- toxins hurt the other fish? Should I leave the starfish out for tonight? I wouldn't even know where to put him

[ReefGirlSara]

thank you so much for your help, I think I'm gonna put the fish in and call it a night, I'm not sure what to do with this star fish, though he is kinda neat looking.

[ReefGirlSara]

any idea what kind of star fish he is?

[LegendLand]

i will find out & post a web-site on it, your welcome for the help, & a small amount of the toxin should not be enough to kill the fish. you might wanna leave him out for the night, maybe in something i bit larger with new water

[tetra-tag]

Could the white goo be stress induced release of Gametes (spawn)?

http://www.dohenystatebeach.org/nn-starfish.htm

[billsreef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10973565#post10973565 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tetra-tag
Could the white goo be stress induced release of Gametes (spawn)?

http://www.dohenystatebeach.org/nn-starfish.htm

Yes, that would be what is happening. Echinoderms (ie starfish, urchins and sea cucumbers) often will release gametes in response to sudden changes in temperature and or salinity.

[ReefGirlSara]

Well, that doesn't sound very harmful. :) Thanks everybody!!

Special Thanks to you Legend Land for being up so late!! Toxins, gametes, or what have you- either way I'm glad I took him out of the tank as a result of your advice. It would have been pretty upsetting to have all that new water clouded up.

[ReefGirlSara]

can anyone ID the star fish?

[billsreef]

The pictures are too blurry for a definitive ID, but it does look like a color morph of a chocolate chip starfish.