What happened to my new starfish?
 

Just bought a new starfish 2 days ago and I inspected it with no visible damage. The next day I notice a rip in its belly now it looks like it got butchered at the stomach with its guys spilling out. Is it for sure going to die? I have another starfish for about 2 months now and this never happened to it so I don suspect anything trying to eat it. It was near my tube anemone the first day I put it in tho.

http://i1292.photobucket.com/albums/...psa5ec14ba.jpg


Just fragged my GSP and and gave it a revive dip and saw these weird tiny tiny starfishes come out. Are they bad?

http://i1292.photobucket.com/albums/...psab045157.jpg

the bottom pic looks like a baby brittle star.
Usually a good thing. they just scavenge but don't grow to the big size like you see at the store.
Can't see much in the first pic.

Is the cut on the starfish on the top of it?
keep a close eye. The minute it starts disintegrating get it out. That being said starfish can regenerate crazy damage.

Did you research starfish before you bought that?:biggrin:
And how old is your tank?

the rip is in the center of the starfish. Looks like its guts is spilled out

yup i did some research. Acclimated for 2-3 hrs and my tank is about 6 months now i do have another older star fish that is doing and growing great. dunno y this 1 looks like its been in a horror movie lol.

Just in case you missed this one.
6 months is till pretty new tank bud. Just trying to help

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-06/ac/feature/

Yup it's officially dead. Messed up my tank too. All my zoas are closed and my LPS shrunk. If I just did a water change yesterday will it be stressful if I do another one tomorrow?

No, I would do it as soon as you can.

Run some carbon through the system while you're at it.

Did a 15% water change yesterday morning and I do run a bag if carbon bag in my sump. All my LPS and zoas still don't look we'll. sps polyps not open. What do i do now?!!!!! Ahh

How old is the carbon?
If one month, I would replace

I've read that ur supposed to change carbon every 6 months. I just replaced it 2 weeks ago. Have about 1 full cup in a mesh bag in sump. Should I do another water change Tmr? Don't want a tank crash cuz of a stupid starfish death.

Some sps are starting to brown out a lil. What's going on!!!!!?

No it's every 6 weeks. Your tank is still considered a new setup. I'd recommend slowing down and to not put anything else in your tank and to concentrate on getting your parameters in check and trying to maintain them for quite some time. Patience is really needed in this hobby. Just keep doing water changes.

starfish are notorious for not shipping well, changes in water temperature it is thought. if you purchased this starfish within a day or of it arriving at the LFS that could be the problem there.

otherwise, yes it is a good idea to drip them when introducing them