is my starfish dead?

[melissadotson]

hi it's me again...i just bought a red serpant starfish tonight from my LFS..he looked great..very bright red and full of life...well when i got him home i aclimated him to the tank..when i let him out of the bag i noticed he wasn't moving..so after about 10 minutes and still no movment i decided to call the pet shop where i got him..the guy there said to give him a few minutes..so it's been over an hour ..still no movment..i picked it up and he seems limp...is he dead? or should i give him more time? i have had severl starfish ..and i have never had this happen before... ok i just checked on him..he has very little movment..he is starting to move his legs alittle but not scooting any..

 

[Amphiprion]

Give it overnight and observe. How did you (and the LFS) acclimate it?

 

[melissadotson]

i don't know how the LFS did it..but i dripped aclimated it for an hour..useally with the fish i just float the bag for about 15 minutes but i know inverts are more delicate so i drip aclimate them..

 

[Ace25]

I agree with Amph, give it at least overnight. Sounds like you acclimated it fine. I think there is a good chance it will be ok by tomorrow. Serpent stars are pretty hardy.

 

[melissadotson]

oh ok thanks will do...

 

[Jstdv8]

Don't you have to make sure with starfish not to let them touch any air at all?
My guess is this wasn't done

 

[Ace25]

Brittle and serpents usually do fine when exposed to air for short periods of time. Other types of stars are more sensitive.

 

[Showdown]

This is obviously old news but just for anyone wondering in the future. Mine did the same thing for 2 days! Not even a movement and now its always on the move.