Starfish "Spilling its guts"?

[coffeequaffer]

I placed a beautiful blue starfish in my tank a week ago. Two or three days after it's introduction, my family and I observed a brownish, wrinkly tube extending from the critter's center. I assumed (yeah, I know what that spells....) that it was just it's idea of a major bowel movement. Since 4 more days have passed with no change, and little movement, I moved him to a refugium. I'll safely assume that this is NOT good... Can anyone enlighten me? Am I to blame by omission or comission for it's state?
TIA to any helpers!!

 

[coffeequaffer]

So my worst fears are confirmed? BAH! I suppose that I can only watch the poor fellow decay then...*sigh*. Would I have better luck purchasing extra-sensitive animals online? Your comments are appreciated! TIA, Perry

 

[aquaman2]

that brown stuff is only its stomach that can come out of their body.

 

[pufferlover]

I tend to agree that a starfish does have its stomach come out of its body normally when it has found something to feed on. The bigger the meal the longer the stomach stays out (gross isn't it). Sometimes I feed my stars some krill and place it in their center area and later when I check their stomach is out and wrapped around the krill. Now the fact this has been going on for days might be what Terry means and you will have to wait and see which way it goes. If it were me and if it is on the glass at some point I would place a piece of Krill, Squid, silversides near its center and see if it seems to envelope it with the mass you see.

 

[coffeequaffer]

Thanks for supporting the obvious newbie! I'm quite sorry to have avoided the whole biology thing during school. I'm payin' for it now... I'll try to feed him as suggested. Thanks again for all the great advice!!!

 

[coffeequaffer]

I bear sad news to my new-found friends of my ill-fated starfish. He's been on his back now for hours, quite motionless. Sure, I hate to 'flush' the $20 I paid the LFS for it , but the real killer is having to sit by stupidly as it faded away.
I'm so glad to have this community to turn to. Your good advice to others fighting Ich allowed me to salvage a beauty of a Koran Angel! In closing this thread, I wonder if anyone can direct me to any material regarding starfish in general. I still very interested in having one THRIVE in my tank, but want to become much more knowledgable before I make another attempt! Thanks again for the help!!!

 

[pufferlover]

So sorry but they can be delicate and in this case Terry B nailed it. I do have 2 stars a Chocalte Chip in a FO tank (not good for a reef) and a African Red Knobby Star (in my full reef) and both have done fine for months. I never had one till these 2 and I am a big fan of them now.