starfish issue

[ClamIAm]

Yesterday I bought a purple linckia star which had been doing fine in the store for 2 weeks. I acclimated it for about an hour (although I did not use the drip method) and this morning when I checked on it it has expelled its digestive organs out of 2 of its arms and they are now hanging out of them. Would this just be a normal reaction to being in a new environment or is the starfish in trouble?

 

[jpa0741]

Sounds like acclimation shock. It is probally doomed. They need to be drip acclimated for many hours.

 

[kryppy]

Wow, the difference in SG and PH must have been enormous.
I've never seen anything like that, I hope he recovers.

 

[ophiuroid]

What are your specific water parameters?

Without a doubt this is acclimation shock and it is not normal. It is critically bad.

The only chance it has is in a stable tank with ideal water parameters. DO NOT MOVE IT TO A QT system.

THese stars need very large mature reef tanks - at least 100g with 150lbs of LR minimum, at least 6 months old (minimum). THey can not be spot fed in general, and die either of acclimation shock (within a month) or of starvation (in about a year). Their acclimation depends in large part on the difference in parameters between the systems but should be several hours, using a drip method - standard.

Please supply your tank parameters keeping in mind what is "perfect" for fish only is often fatal for these stars.