Is a Starfish safe for my reef tank?

[DalPal25]

I'm getting a new 40gal cube tank and was wondering if all the fish I buy are peaceful, would it be possible to have a starfish in there somewhere? My girlfriend really wants me to get one, she loves them but at the end of the day want to do what's right for the entire tank. If anyone has any, I'd love for you all to post pictures and share stories!

 

[RyanCSGO]

I think it really depends on which type your wanting to get. Do you have one in mind?

 

[DalPal25]

I think it really depends on which type your wanting to get. Do you have one in mind?

Nothing at all in mind. The largest that could be happy in a 40 would be nice. I've seen little teeny tiny white ones at my LFS and I feel that a bigger one would be easier to enjoy.

 

[RyanCSGO]

check out the following:

sand cleaning star fish, blue linckia starfish, fromia sea starfish, serpent star, theres a few others

the small white ones you mentioned are asternia stars. some say they are harmless others feel they are pests

 

[Wilsoni]

I'd say if you were to go with one, avoid Linckia species. Sandsifting, Brittle/Serpent and Fromia stars are generally easy to keep.

 

[Wilsoni]

I'd personally avoid the beautiful Blue Linckia at all costs. They're fairly common but have dismal success rates in captivity. I would say the "expert only" status of this specific starfish should be taken very seriously.

Watching such a beautiful creature perish is never fun...

 

[RyanCSGO]

Thanks for chiming in @Wilsoni , didn't realize that about the linckia.

 

[Wilsoni]

Thanks for chiming in @Wilsoni , didn't realize that about the linckia.

I had to find out the hard way. Haha but I would fully agree with the rest of your post.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Correct. The hard choice is witch species because of what they eat. Linka and sand sifter do well in large established tanks because linka eat hitchiker sponges, sifters eat micro fauna in the sand. Serpents are fish snail and small animal predators. Brittles IMO are a best choice as they eat detritus etc and come in many colors.

 

[Wilsoni]

the small white ones you mentioned are asternia stars. some say they are harmless others feel they are pests

If it does happen to be an Asterina Starfish you're seeing, please don't let your LFS charge you for them... Unless you're buying 50 to feed Harlequin Shrimp. Lol

 

[NanaReefer]

Definitely stay away from the Linckia, Fromia and Sand Sifting stars. A 40 is much to small to produce enough food source. They are also very difficult to target feed.
I've got a Fancy Brittle Star that readily accepts meaty foods, thus easy to keep in my 40B. Only down side I hardly ever see him. As is common with Brittles & Serpent Stars.

 

[Untamedrose]

Sandsifting are a great addition IF you have a deeper establish sand bed with lots of stuff for it to eat in there. They can literally wither and melt away if there isnt enough to eat in a newer tank.

A brittle really is the only choice.

My fav are the tiny brittles, that are likely already in your tank(if you started with decent LR)

Dont pay for asterina. :/

 

[jsker]

I got the asterina stars for free. The asterina stars just appears out out know were . Brought in a harlequin shrimp to do some clean up work, but have not seen the shrimp since I put him in. I have two linckina and the have not made it.

 

[Wilsoni]

I got the asterina stars for free. The asterina stars just appears out out know were . Brought in a harlequin shrimp to do some clean up work, but have not seen the shrimp since I put him in. I have two linckina and the have not made it.

It's funny you say that. Once the Blue Linckia I had began dying, I donated it to my LFS. They had a nano which apparently housed a pair of Harlequins they had not seen in months. Upon introducing the Linckia, the Harlequins instantly came out of hiding and made quick work of it.

It was kinda sad to let the star go but it was more logical to offer it up as a food source for something living than allow it to slowly waste away in my tank.

Maybe a Chocolate Chip Star can entice your Harlequin to come out if it's still alive? I've read they can be reclusive if food isn't present...

 

[jason2459]

I got 2 common starfish from KP Aquatics

http://www.kpaquatics.com/product-category/starfish/


They have done really well and don't touch my corals. Several other people have had success with them in their reef tanks too. I put them in my tank and didn't see them for several weeks. Now I see them quite a bit.

They are popular and you need to get on the email list to get notified when back in stock. When you get that email get on the site ASAP and order.

 

[jsker]

It's funny you say that. Once the Blue Linckia I had began dying, I donated it to my LFS. They had a nano which apparently housed a pair of Harlequins they had not seen in months. Upon introducing the Linckia, the Harlequins instantly came out of hiding and made quick work of it.

It was kinda sad to let the star go but it was more logical to offer it up as a food source for something living than allow it to slowly waste away in my tank.

Maybe a Chocolate Chip Star can entice your Harlequin to come out if it's still alive? I've read they can be reclusive if food isn't present...

Thank you for the information. It looks like my asterina population is going down. I was thinking of purchasing two chocolate chips and put them in the sump for food amd taking a leg off to feed. Maybe the with get the shrimp out of hiding

 

[Wilsoni]

I got 2 common starfish from KP Aquatics

http://www.kpaquatics.com/product-category/starfish/


They have done really well and don't touch my corals. Several other people have had success with them in their reef tanks too. I put them in my tank and didn't see them for several weeks. Now I see them quite a bit.

They are popular and you need to get on the email list to get notified when back in stock. When you get that email get on the site ASAP and order.

That's an interesting addition and definitely a first. Does your tank house coral as well?

 

[jason2459]

That's an interesting addition and definitely a first. Does your tank house coral as well?

Yes, a mix of lps, sps, softies, and anemones.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Hey there is a good question how hard is a chocolate chip to keep? I have no idea what they eat and they are pretty cool.
I have two brittles now really only see thier arms. But they do make it around the tank from time to Time. I forget the name of our big red one. We call him DArth Kraken.
He's actually very active and moves around the tank a lot.

 

[jason2459]

FYI, Chocolate Chip starfish are not reef safe. Great looking starfish though. Many do use them to feed Harlequin shrimp.