In the end, I think Tim was right that it was too late. I found him in the clutches of the red brittle yesterday morning. I'm 100% sure that the star didn't kill him, given the circumstances. Even if it did, he probably wasn't in any condition to survive by the time it got to him.

I could see him trying to eat the whole time we had him, and he did eat a little frozen mysis when I spot-fed, but it was too little too late.

Deb and I have had 100% mortality with fish bought from the store where we got him. One other was a foxface that expired of unexplained causes about six weeks after coming home, and Deb bought a pair of ORA percs that apparently had brooklynella or amyloodinium (not sure which; female showed a white filmy discoloration in places, not distinct white spots like ich). They expired at about 10 days despite our attempts to save the female with hypo once we realized there was an infection (male died before showing any visible symptoms). These two were in a tank at the store with wild-caught clowns, but that didn't click for us as a possible problem until after they got sick.

I'm not sure it's appropriate to name that shop here, but needless to say it was NOT Fin Addict or Aquatic Warehouse. We have already decided that from now on we're sticking to mail-order and those two local shops.