Hermit crabs snails cc starfish dying

Question
QUESTION: I have a 29 gallon saltwater tank. I have 2 clown fish 6 hermit crabs 4 snails and 1 chocolate chip starfish. I've had my clown fish and starfish for over a year,but now my hermit crabs, starfish and one snail have died. My nitrates went up a little bit does that have anything to do with it or are there to many snails and crabs?

ANSWER: Hello Carrie,

The nitrates may have gone up due to the die off... of it could be the cause.

Can you tell me the water peramters before and after you noticed things starting to die?

Can you tell me what you usually do for water changes and for fresh water top off??

I look forward to hearing the results and we can continue the discussion later.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Dear Mr. Bill
My nitrates are at 20 ppm. Before everything was normal until I got a couple new snails. I had my hermit crabs for three years and my starfish for over a year.I also have another question I have tubule worms and anomies growing is that good or bad?

ANSWER: Well, im sorry i can not explain why you lost the snails and starfish, other then to say that snails die all the time, and starfish usually last a couple years or so in captive tanks.  (they slowly starve over time)...

The nitrates at 20ppmisnt that bad especially for the critters.  it is more important with regards to corals...

The tubule worms?  and Anomies???  not sure what you mean by those terms...  ARe you saying you ahve worms that are tube shaped?   Do they stick out at all?  What do you see, other then the tube?  and how big is the tube?

Anomies?  is that some type of anemone?  if so, can you please be more specific?  what size, what shape? what colors???

Usually the worms are ok, but there are a couple that maybe a little on the irritating side as they stick out really far and touch other corals.  but again, if you dont have corals, and fish only it shouldnt be a problems

anemones are usually okay, but there are a few critters that are 'anemone' like, that maybe a problem as they grow rast and all over and will choke out and over frow other corals...

anywys, i look forward to hearing the clarifications.

thanks

bill

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: The thing that looks like an anemone is a see threw brown color and they grow on my live rock. The thing that somebody told me was a worm looks like a light purple tube it doesn't do anything,and it also grows on the live rock.

Answer
hello,

look up glass anemone, or aptasia.   if they are those, then let me know and we can address it.

the tube things, are they really small?  if so, then they are okay.  they are a worm, and they protrude, just a wee bit and usually at night... they extend and basically try to catch stuff that is floating around in the water column.  These are a good sign things are okay...  but becareful when moving rocks around, as they are sharp.  no poisons or toxins, just plain sharp and a pita...

let me know about the anemones, and we will work on that when you confirm what they are.

bill