starfish dont stick to anything

[clownmaroon]

my LFS is closing the doors and i bought a starfish half off and a female hawaiian flame wrasse for 40$... my starfish wont stick to anything and when i went o move it to the gravel bottom instead of the rock it started releasing some whiteish/clear stuff from its top side.... anyone know when it will start to stick or what the stuff it released is

 

[olemiss reb]

What type of star? A pic of the "whiteish/clear stuff from its top side" would help but it sounds like acclimation shock in which death is inevitable. Gravel bottom?

 

[clownmaroon]

it is a marble sea star and here is the link http://www.LiveAquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+528+2133&pcatid=2133
it is not a white piece that came off of it,,, it almost seemed like a defence type of thing because it was a whitish watery type of substance and gravel bottom is correct

 

[SushiGirl]

How did you acclimate it?

 

[clownmaroon]

bag for an hour i dont do the drip unless its an expensive fish or rare, idk why i probably would have but i didnt have enough time and i never let it be exposed to the air

 

[SushiGirl]

The link you provided says: "The Marble Sea Star is very intolerant of sudden changes in oxygen levels, salinity and pH of the water, and cannot tolerate copper-based medications. The drip acclimation method is highly recommended for all Sea Stars due to their intolerability to changes in water chemistry. It should never be exposed to air while handling."

 

[olemiss reb]

Fromias are in the same category as linckias concerning acclimation. A slow drip acclimation for a minimum of three hours, I go no less than four. It is dying from acclimation shock, this is irreversible. Could you post a pic of the gravel bottom, I am not familiar with gravel in saltwater systems.

 

[clownmaroon]

i can once i figure out my computer when i upload pictures to it, the computer freezes and am currently working on it

 

[clownmaroon]

is there anything i can do to help the starfish do you think.... theres these orange bubles very small ones on it around the crack/spaces where the different bumps are on it... what is the percentage of it living and all my water conditions are great just ran a test 2 days ago.... i moved him back to the rock and he isnt just hard and flat like he used to he is actualy bending his arms the way the rock form is, is this a good sign or not?

 

[olemiss reb]

Unfortunately, acclimation shock is irreversible. Perfect parameters in your tank do not matter unless they perfectly matched the water that the star came from. Rapid parameter shifts equals death in fromias and linckias. The trickiest part concerning acclimation shock is that it may take up to a month to do the star in but in your case I suspect it will be quicker due to only temp acclimating. A large mature system with a minimum of 100 lbs LR and a slow drip acclimation are needed for these stars.

 

[clownmaroon]

i am currently succeding in putting pictures on my computer but it is taking a lot longer than usual and is better than freezing up..... it looks like it has a couple of the suction cup things starting to come out and by a couple i mean around 3 per leg/foot

 

[clownmaroon]

and the starfish lives!!!!!!!!!!
he is slowly recoveriing and moves very little when he decides to

 

[olemiss reb]

report back in a month, acclimation shock is a slow death

 

[clownmaroon]

that i will do..... lets pray he lives