Curious if my starfish is dead

[Kelloggs2800]

Hello everyone. So I bought a starfish yesterday. I apologize as I am not sure what type it is but it is supposed to pretty much stay on the glass.

When I put it in yesterday (following all proper procedures first) it was super happy and moving around.

Not even 24 hours later it is now sitting on the substrate all puffy and not moving at all. Even one of its legs is folded underneath it.

I am really not sure what happen but none of my snail's are trying to eat it (like they would if something does) but it really just seems to be dead.

Everything else is doing great so I am confused. Any thoughts or insight would be appreciated.

 

[Kelloggs2800]

Oops wrong after pic

 

[FrostyWriter021]

Has it moved any since the picture, my starfish can go 5 plus hours without moving.

 

[Kelloggs2800]

Not at all. I'm more concerned about the change in the body size. Is that normal? I tried looking at video or posts and cannot find anything about it.

I do know they can be still for many hours but that and the fact that it's so puffy now is what scares me.

 

[FrostyWriter021]

I have never seen a starfish do that, I did see if the starfish is dead that it will start to turn gray.

 

[bushdoc]

Turn your sea star upside down underwater and see if small tube feet ( podia) are moving.
Echinoderms are very sensitive to salinity changes, so even long drip acclimation could have not been enough if salinity deference between retailer and your DT was to big.

 

[Kasrift]

Oops wrong after pic

Super weird. @livinlifeinBKK any thoughts on the starfish puffing up?

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

Super weird. @livinlifeinBKK any thoughts on the starfish puffing up?

Could be die to acclimation although i haven't personally seen anything like this...i don't think it's dead though because the tend to literally disintegrate when they die...try turning it upside down and seeing how long it takes (or if it is even able) to "right" itself. That'll give an indication of health.

 

[Kelloggs2800]

So just an update. I thought the starfish was dead so I took it out and out it in a bucket with some tank water. I was about to throw it out and noticed it was moving around and looked really healthy

So I put it back in the tank and it went plump again and not moving. Took it back out and again it moved around and looked healthy.

So I decided to just leave it in the tank. It didn't move for a week but now it's moving all around and looks nice and healthy. I guess it just had a hard time acclimating.