Experience with Icon or Doublestar starfish in reef tank?

[Sierra_Bravo]

My daughter had seen this sea star (Iconaster longimanus) in our LFS last night and fell it love with it. The one we saw was much brighter colored than the stock photos below. It is listed on LiveAquaria and another website as reef safe, and I'm considering trading in our serpent star for this one as she is rarely interested in anything to do with the aquarium.

Any experiences on keeping this species?

 

[Tahoe61]

Saltcorner list them as expert only so it's not going to be a breeze to keep one.

They are beautiful though.

http://www.saltcorner.com/AquariumLibrary/browsespecies.php?CritterID=3035

 

[Sierra_Bravo]

Saltcorner list them as expert only so it's not going to be a breeze to keep one.

They are beautiful though.

http://www.saltcorner.com/AquariumLibrary/browsespecies.php?CritterID=3035

Thanks for that. It states "the long-term success rate with this sea star appears to be dismal at best". If an expert is shooting for "dismal" as a best case scenario, I guess I would be shooting for "not killing it prior to arriving to the house".

That's not how I want to keep animals in my care. She'll understand that.

.

 

[cdklos]

Thanks for that. It states "the long-term success rate with this sea star appears to be dismal at best". If an expert is shooting for "dismal" as a best case scenario, I guess I would be shooting for "not killing it prior to arriving to the house".

That's not how I want to keep animals in my care. She'll understand that.

.

I have one. It’s been in my tank for about a month and a half. He looks great and has been a breeze so far. His color still looks awesome and he moves around the tank all the time. No issues so far.

 

[Sierra_Bravo]

I have one. It’s been in my tank for about a month and a half. He looks great and has been a breeze so far. His color still looks awesome and he moves around the tank all the time. No issues so far.

Are yo doing anything special for it to eat enough? The article Tahoe61 referenced mentioned having to put meaty foods in the substrate around the tank to supplement it.

 

[cdklos]

Are yo doing anything special for it to eat enough? The article Tahoe61 referenced mentioned having to put meaty foods in the substrate around the tank to supplement it.

Nope, I feed normally. 1 cube a day, tank is 240 with a 60 gallon sump. I have about 15 smaller fish. The star fish doesn’t ever hang out on the substrate, he’s always on a rock somewhere or on the back glass. My tank is pretty low nutrient too.

 

[Labridaedicted]

The problem with this genus is that they tend to starve long term and, even as sea stars go, are particularly sensitive to swings in many parameters.

 

[Sierra_Bravo]

It's a bit of a catch 22. . . you see an animal like that and think "well, better I not try it because I wouldn't want to kill it" but then leaving it at the LFS means there is a very high potential that someone less knowledgeable than I am will do exactly that. Regardless, I'm going to pass.

Thanks for the input and good luck @cdklos on yours - I hope it thrives for you. BTW - I thought your screen name looked familiar. You're also on the Austin Reef Club forum!

 

[Quarryshark]

I have 2 in my 180. Have had them for 6 weeks and they’re doing fine so far. Very active.
I supplement their grazing with a few sinking pellets here and there. They eat them.

 

[Waters]

Wow, very cool.....never seen them before.

 

[steallife904]

they usually do great for me for a bit until they don't

 

[Raven k]

How did you guys do with these long term? I’ve fallen in love with one and trying to decide if I should buy or not