I think my LFS over sold me.

oldfishman · Jun 30, 2018

Help! I think my LFS, that I have trusted till now, may have oversold me. My
JBJ 28 has been cycled and up and running since April. A month ago I add a pair of clowns and they have been doing well. The tank was beginning to get some algae so the LFS store said to get 5 Mexican Turbo snails. I thought that was too many an got two and they have done a great job. However, the LFS had taken sand shifting starfish out of quarantine and I had not seen them before. I was worried that there would not be enough to keep both the turbo snails and the starfish alive and was informed that there would be no problem. So, of course, I bought one.

I started researching sand sifting starfish and found, as usual, a lot of conflicting information. I have become attached to the little star fish and do not want to starve him or the turbo snails.

So I have guess I have two questions did the LFS over sell me and how to I make sure the turbo snails and star fish get enough to eat.

EW_Fish · Jun 30, 2018

oldfishman said:
Help! I think my LFS, that I have trusted till now, may have oversold me. My
JBJ 28 has been cycled and up and running since April. A month ago I add a pair of clowns and they have been doing well. The tank was beginning to get some algae so the LFS store said to get 5 Mexican Turbo snails. I thought that was too many an got two and they have done a great job. However, the LFS had taken sand shifting starfish out of quarantine and I had not seen them before. I was worried that there would not be enough to keep both the turbo snails and the starfish alive and was informed that there would be no problem. So, of course, I bought one.

I started researching sand sifting starfish and found, as usual, a lot of conflicting information. I have become attached to the little star fish and do not want to starve him or the turbo snails.

So I have guess I have two questions did the LFS over sell me and how to I make sure the turbo snails and star fish get enough to eat.

So from the research i've done on the stars is that they need a larger mature tank to increase the chances of living longer. But the turbo snails way to many. I would have gotten maybe 1 not 5

Maggie321 · Jun 30, 2018

Stuff some nori in the crack where the starfish hangs out. He will get it.

redfishbluefish · Jun 30, 2018

A tank that new and that small, I'd plan on feeding your starfish......they like clams.

Most starfish issues I see are because of starvation. FYI, most stars are carnivores.

BootyPup · Jun 30, 2018

If there is enough algae present, the Turbos should be fine, as long as they're pretty much your only snails for a while. But I would definitely say the starfish was too much. I don't believe a two month old tank is mature enough to healthily house a starfish. As the others said, try and feed the starfish as it comes out.

Rispa · Jun 30, 2018

Btw the human grade nori for making sushi can be cheaper. Just make sure it's unseasoned.

Oh you could also get pellets to throw in.

Maggie321 · Jun 30, 2018

redfishbluefish said:
A tank that new and that small, I'd plan on feeding your starfish......they like clams. Most starfish issues I see are because of starvation. FYI, most stars are carnivores.

So he could shove some shrimp or something meaty in the starfish layer. Where do you get clams small enough to feed it I wonder? That's cool. I don know why I thought feeding nori would be enough.

Retro Reefer · Jun 30, 2018

The snails should be fine, I like 1 or 2 per gallon in a tank with algae issues.. the starfish could be problematic in such a young tank.

Rispa · Jun 30, 2018

Maggie321 said:
So he could shove some shrimp or something meaty in the starfish layer. Where do you get clams small enough to feed it I wonder? That's cool. I don know why I thought feeding nori would be enough.

You can cut the clams down to size

Tuffyyyyy · Jun 30, 2018

I don't think the snails are too big of a deal, however your tank is too small for the sand sifting star. I think I've seen some people supplementing their feeding, not sure what it was but they place it kind of under the leg.

hdsoftail1065 · Jun 30, 2018

I have walked away from the lfs' feeling the same way from time to time in my early days. But we all have to remember that they are in business to make money, while there are good ones out there and some not so good, I feel the monkey falls back on to us to reasearch a little before we buy. This is a great place to ask questions, in fact while you are looking if you ask the question you will probably get an answer before the register rings.

enjoy your new critters!

redfishbluefish · Jun 30, 2018

Maggie321 said:
.......Where do you get clams small enough to feed it I wonder? .......

As stated, cut up the clam. What has worked for me is to freeze the clam and cut off an appropriate amount to feed. This way you get a number of feedings per clam.

Maggie321 · Jun 30, 2018

Rispa said:
You can cut the clams down to size

[emoji23] i was thinking in the shell still! Like where to find little pistacio sized clams!

ScooterV · Jun 30, 2018

Retro Reefer said:
The snails should be fine, I like 1 or 2 per gallon in a tank with algae issues.. the starfish could be problematic in such a young tank.

I think the issue would be they are Mexican turbo and get huge, if they aren't large already. I think one or two would be more than enough in such a small tank. A mix of cerith, trochus, nerite, etc. to suit the needs I could see more, but not those Mexican turbos. The two he got seems appropriate and may even end up removing one at some point.

Sk8erSpanky · Jun 30, 2018

I

Rispa said:
Btw the human grade nori for making sushi can be cheaper. Just make sure it's unseasoned.

Oh you could also get pellets to throw in.

Ive saved so much money by buying organic nori from the supermarket! I feel like i should start packing it individually and sell it as fish food nori with a crazy mark up lol

Retro Reefer · Jun 30, 2018

ScooterV said:
I think the issue would be they are Mexican turbo and get huge, if they aren't large already. I think one or two would be more than enough in such a small tank. A mix of cerith, trochus, nerite, etc. to suit the needs I could see more, but not those Mexican turbos. The two he got seems appropriate and may even end up removing one at some point.

Well I didn’t mean all Mexican turbos.. my turbos are Astraea, they are lazy and knock stuff over.. a mix is best, I really like Margarites they plow through algae like crazy but they also like to go for strolls outside my tanks.

oldfishman · Jun 30, 2018

I agree 100% it is my mistake not to do my research before I bought. I will find a way to feed my starfish. thanks for the help. I may have to feed the snails as they have done a bang up job on the algae