Is my starfish OK?????

[seaclown]

My chocolate chip starfish has not moved in about 6 days. I have had him for about 6 months (but I got it from a friend, so I'm not sure how old it is). It used to move around the tank quite a bit (on the sides, and bottom etc), now it just stays on the bottom of the tank in one corner. It looks OK, other than the fact it has been in the same spot for about 6 days.

Is there something to be concerned about??? Should I do anything??

[kmk2307]

What are you feeding it? How did you acclimate it? What is your water chemistry like?

[seaclown]

He is pretty well eating what I feed my clownfish, frozen brine shrimp, and flakes. My waster chemistry is Ok, everything is where it should be, and he has been in my tank for 6 months, and I have never had a problem.

[Larry Waughon]

Have added any thing new recently to the tank?

[williams-crist]

I'mnot sure what you mean by "he is okay eating what my fish eat."

Stars need to be spot fed. You can easily place food underneath their central disc.

Mine enjoys the seaweed selects nori.

If you are ever unsure if he has died flip him over. A healthy star will quickly correct himself.

Best of luck,

Debra

[seaclown]

Nothing new has been added to my tank. He had been upside down, and didn't correct himself, so we flipped him back over, (but this happened a couple of weeks ago - I didn't realize they could correct themselves). I'm sure he's not dead though because I can see some of his tentacle things underneath him moving (sorry I'm not sure of the correct name of them)

[Neptune's Nemesis]

Not tyring to sound dumb here but don't chocolate chip starfish eat corals?

[williams-crist]

Yes, you are right chocolate chip starfish are not reef safe. The choc chip I have is in a FOWLR. They should not be put with corals.

They are called tubefeet. If the chocolate chip is not correcting himself then he is likely very sick. There is probably nothing you can do for him now.

Is he still alive?

[FalsePerc]

Originally posted by seaclown
...I'm sure he's not dead though because I can see some of his tentacle things underneath him moving (sorry I'm not sure of the correct name of them)

Correct me if i'm wrong, but don't some type of worms live in the "suction cup feet" of some species of stars?

[FalsePerc]

http://www.lausd.k12.ca.us/NH_Zoo_Magnet/virtual/graphics/batworm_lg.jpg

Not sure how relevent this is, but it may be that your starfish is, in fact dead, considering that the general consensus is that if the starfish cannot right himself he is dead, and your star does not possess that ability. Seeing the feet moving may not be an entirely positive way of telling if it's alive.

My advice: smell it. If it stinks, it's dead.
HTH

[seaclown]

Just an update. Things haven't changed ????? He still doesn't move. I did try smelling him - no smell at all. I propped him up against the glass to see what would happen, he doesn't stick to the glass anymore, but he opened up the underside and I could see the little suction cups (tube feet) move around. No worms or anything like that. He looks healthy, other than the fact it doesn't move. I'm confused??????

[Alamo]

Feed him and see what happens

[seaclown]

What is the best thing to feed him, and how often?

[Hound]

krill or mysis shrimp is what i target feed my brittle starfish every few weeks or so......

[moo]

I feed my choco star shrimp pellets. Just place it next to him and hopefully he'll go for it.

He fell off the side of the tank many times and has never corrected himself. I always had to flip him over. The first time I saw him i thought he was dead. Then I saw his little tentacles move so I just flipped him over. He's done this many times. Maybe I have a sick star also. :confused:

Also, he wasn't moving or eating the past 2 days. Then this morning I find him out and moving again...go figure.

[moo]

Oh..and I feed him 1 pellet a day. My star is 3-4 inches tip to tip.

[seaclown]

Just thought I'd update. I did try feeding him shrimp pellets, and it seemed to work for a while. But yesterday he finally died - poor little guy :(