How long have you kept your starfish?

[saltyhog]

I'd like to get a consensus of how long lived different types of starfish have been kept successfully in reef tanks. Hopefully others experiences will dissuade some from keeping species that have no significant chance of survival and inform those that wish to keep these interesting animals on which species/genera to choose.

What little I've been able to find suggests that species such as Fromia and Linckia have lifespans as long as 10 years in the wild (this is on the extreme end of their lifespans).

How long have you kept your:

Linckia

Fromia

Brittlestar (not the micros)

any other type of starfish.

 

[RyanCSGO]

I’ve had a brittle star for almost a year. One of the coolest things in my tank.

 

[Greybeard]

The only stars I have now are asterina... couldn't get rid of them if I wanted to, which I don't.

I had a green brittle star that got huge and started catching fish. Several years, anyway.

Had a chocolate chip star for probably 4 years, gave him away when I broke down that (fish only) system.

Had a blue linkia that was in my 240g reef for about 2 years. Very mature tank, lots of sponges and so forth... He seemed to like to keep a black encrusting sponge that I had trimmed back for me.

Fromia? I've had two, both passed quickly. I won't be attempting another one.

 

[bif24701]

I have had a red purple striped serpent star fish for almost two years.

 

[code4]

I have a fat sand sifting starfish. While just plain looking it is still nice. It can move really fast at times. I do not recall when I purchased it. Several years anyway now.

Looking for more colorful ones that will do well in the aquarium.

Shelley

 

[BlueCursor]

Brittlestar = 4 years so far.
Sand sifting start = 2 years so far.

Have never had any other stars.

 

[MSB123]

About 5 years with a sand sifting star, too many different systems to remember

 

[AZReefGirl]

I’ve had a fromia for 5 months. He’s growing, fat and happy. They don’t like pristine tanks and require plenty of biofilm and left over food to survive. He’s one of my tank favorites.

 

[Boreas_SA]

I've had a blue Linckia multifora for about 11 years now, came in as a hitchhiker on a piece of rock I collected in Mauritius on our honeymoon. There are probably about 10 in the tank now, they keep on splitting. Then also 5 Nardoa starfish for about about a year that keeps my asterinas under control. Pic of the Linckias, and a pic of a Linckia doing some yoga on the tank glass:

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

My orange Fromia indica is about 9 months old now...so he's outlived the expectations already...i spot feed him as well as having the tank stocked with wild ocean live rock for him to feed on

 

[flagg37]

My orange Fromia indica is about 9 months old now...so he's outlived the expectations already...i spot feed him as well as having the tank stocked with wild ocean live rock for him to feed on

Well, any starfish with six legs is going to challenge your expectations.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

Im doing everything I can to keep him active and healthy...I've really dove into a LOT of research on starfish to try to provide him with only the best.

Well, any starfish with six legs is going to challenge your expectations.

 

[Lavey29]

I have had mine over a year now but he is in rehab because he drinks to much tequila.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

I've had a blue Linckia multifora for about 11 years now, came in as a hitchhiker on a piece of rock I collected in Mauritius on our honeymoon. There are probably about 10 in the tank now, they keep on splitting. Then also 5 Nardoa starfish for about about a year that keeps my asterinas under control. Pic of the Linckias, and a pic of a Linckia doing some yoga on the tank glass:

Out of curiosity, why do you think your starfish have been doing so well in your tank? Is there anything you can think of that enables you to have success with these guys when others don’t?

 

[Boreas_SA]

Out of curiosity, why do you think your starfish have been doing so well in your tank? Is there anything you can think of that enables you to have success with these guys when others don’t?

That is a good question, nothing out of the ordinary, him and his clones went through quite a few tanks over the years (wide range of nutrients and stages of care/neglect between them), they don’t seem particularly fussy, I think it is just the specific species, also stays really small, maybe max 2 inch across tip of foot to tip of foot. Kind of like asterina starfish in terms of just existing indefinitely.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

That is a good question, nothing out of the ordinary, him and his clones went through quite a few tanks over the years (wide range of nutrients and stages of care/neglect between them), they don’t seem particularly fussy, I think it is just the specific species, also stays really small, maybe max 2 inch across tip of foot to tip of foot. Kind of like asterina starfish in terms of just existing indefinitely.

That’s really cool, and I’d guess you’re right about it being the specific species (normal Blue Linckia stars - called Linckia laevigata, though it seems they’re actually just an ecophenotype of Linckia multifora - typically get way larger than 2 inches). I’m curious what species it is now though.

 

[Boreas_SA]

Even less than 2 inch, measured one now:

 

[wywyatt]

Im doing everything I can to keep him active and healthy...I've really dove into a LOT of research on starfish to try to provide him with only the best.

How long did he end up living? Nine months is impressive, you’re one of the few online I’ve found who say theirs greater than 6 months. What did you spot feed? If you don’t mind me asking