Help with starfish. Think he's dead

[t_berg94]

Had him for about 2 weeks. drip aclimated it for about 2.5 hours. He disappeared for 2 days after being put in then showed back up randomly has been on the top right front corner of tank for about 3 days now moving about an inch a day. Get home from work to find him like this today. Tested water yesterday all parameters came back great. LFS had it for about 3 weeks or so I kept going in there to look at him and see what else they got I like to keep an eye on what I want from there for a while before I buy it. Never quite trust their methods.

One of his legs looks like it's dissolving. Not sure if something nipped it.

 

[Calappidae]

It's melting, it's how a starfish naturally dies. Linkcia stars usually do starve in home aquariums much like sand sifters.. Like fromia's, they only eat biofilm in very established and large systems. (with the exception of certain sponges, and rumored asterina stars).

 

[Betta132]

Starving, remove it before it pollutes the tank. It's doomed. These cannot be kept in all but very large, very established tanks.

 

[gogo7]

hows your linkia doing?

 

[t_berg94]

Sorry I did not respond i had hoped the app would notify me when someone commented it however didn't. I did take the starfish out of the tank and put him into a small 5 gallon with the tank water that I use when I acclimate. He moved around a little bit. The next morning he was kinda sunken in and dissolved more with no responses. I figured he was gone.

When I got him I had talked to the guy at the LFS about putting him in my tank. I have a 120 gal custom acrylic tank FOWLR that's been set up for a little over a year. I got it as a 75 from someone that had it set up for 5 years I transfered over all the water when j bought it so it didn't cycle. LFS guy said he should be great in there and then this happened. Was pretty disappointed

 

[Calappidae]

Unforunately LFS don't exactly know what they're talking about most of the time, their translation is $$$$$$$

 

[Betta132]

Water doesn't have any of the useful bacteria, moving water over won't prevent a tank cycle.
Honestly, even when your tank is more established, I wouldn't suggest trying this again. Nobody really knows the secret to keeping these alive, they're basically doomed the moment they leave the ocean.
Your LFS wants to sell you things and may not be terribly knowledgeable. Best to research first.

 

[lifeoffaith]

I just lost mine after 3 weeks. My brittle star was starting to clean him up by eating him from the inside out. Really too bad, but I don't think I would try it again.