Blue Linckia Starfish died

euphillia · Apr 8, 2015

I know these guys are hard to keep. I did the two hour drip acclimation.
From what I have read, by the time you buy from LFS, they are starving, and once in your tank, only last a few weeks from starvation.
It seemed to be doing well, posted up by the return, ate some pieces of clam a week ago.
Last night I noticed it hadn't really moved all day. Pulled him off the return and put him in the sand. This morning he had popped his stomach out. Anything I could have done different?

Tahoe61 · Apr 8, 2015

The extruding stomach does not mean they are dead.

You've answered all your own questions, but it may have not been dead.

Reefing Madness · Apr 8, 2015

He pop his stomach out, or was it something he grabbed to eat?

CountrySideCoral · Apr 9, 2015

I have been told never let human skin touch them. I used black nitrile gloves to add mine. I'm sure I will be bashed but I don't drip acclimate either. I float the bag and bring to temp then slash the bag open over a bucket and handle fish/coral/invert with a gloved hand. Haven't lost a fish or invert since I began this method a few years back.

Tahoe61 · Apr 9, 2015

Avoid exposing them to air if possible. The collectors are not out their with sterile black nitrite gloves. What possible reason could there be for not letting them touch human skin? Avoid oils from our skin? Then just wash thoroughly as you would when working in an aquarium.
There is no reason not to do a little extra acclimation on this particular inhabitant. They should as least be acclimated to temp and SG.

euphillia · Apr 9, 2015

He was in the same spot for over 12 hours, with legs all in the positions when I put him on the sand. I turned him over, and his stomach was out, pale pink and none of his tube feet were out.