sandsifting starfish HELP.

Well, i think i may have made a mistake with buying this starfish. first off because my tank is to small for this kind. But not only is that a problem. But this is his second day being in my tank. and he has yet to sift through sand, and is barley moving at all! he is changing colors on his top. to a brown. I am afraid he is dying...I can see him moving his legs up and down. but thats about all he does... I know this is not normal. Any ideas? i would like to keep him alive and possibly take him back for store credit. so he can be properly taken care of. Any help would be great. Thanks

Emily

 

I would take him back ASAP before he dies. How did you accumulate him?

 

i think he means acclimate.

 

he sat in the bag we got him in for 3 hours. and aobut every fifteen minutes i added a little bit of water to his bag. at first he was fine.. he did dig in the sand.. but when i went to bed he had one arm sticking out on top of the sand... i figured he would move eventually.. and by morning time his arm was still in the same place.... im wondering if me doing a water change after i put him in there might be the problem??? i have no idea? im so lost.

 

how long has your tank been set up?

 

i have no ammonia or nitrates in my tank also.. so i dont believe that is the problem. would damage from shipping cause this?

 

of course i wouldn't think he would starve after just two days.

 

about four months now.. it has two clowns. and a saddle back puffer. crabs. chocolate chip starfish. and about 11lbs of live rock.

 

it could have been damaged in shipping or it was already sick when you got it. Either way, from what i have read this starfish can quickly run out of food and starve in a small tank. i don't think this is your issue but it is something to think about down the road.

 

i have one that is always buried. he only seems to come up to move to a different spot.