Star fish

[Tinks.reef89]

What’s the best star fish for a aquarium. I’ve heard a lot of bad and good about them.

 

[rkpetersen]

That's a pretty broad question.
If you're talking about a coral reef, look at Fromia stars and brittle/serpent stars.
If you have a fairly deep sandbed, you could also look at Astropectin sand-sifting stars.
You can also consider Linkia stars, but they have a poorer long term survival record.
Avoid Protoreaster stars (red knobby, chocolate chip); they will attack corals, clams, tubeworms and even other stars.

 

[ahiggins]

I’ve also heard your tank should be pretty well along before you get one. I put a big brittle star in mine at 6 months and he starved

 

[Bryson.bobby]

I’ve also heard your tank should be pretty well along before you get one. I put a big brittle star in mine at 6 months and he starved

I feed mine crab pellets

 

[Bruce17]

Would you recommend the chocolate chi

That's a pretty broad question.
If you're talking about a coral reef, look at Fromia stars and brittle/serpent stars.
If you have a fairly deep sandbed, you could also look at Astropectin sand-sifting stars.
You can also consider Linkia stars, but they have a poorer long term survival record.
Avoid Protoreaster stars (red knobby, chocolate chip); they will attack corals, clams, tubeworms and even other stars.

Would you recommend the chocolate chip or red knoby ones if my tank has no corals?

 

[LAReefer4Life]

Reef safe starfish brittle, serpent, or sand shifting stars are all super hardy and very cool creatures. Plus they move more quickly than many other species. More Action in your aquarium. LOL

Non reef safe and LR only tanks the chocolate starfish is a hardy option.

Most other starfish really don't do well for long in aquariums. The only real success is super mature tanks and even then it doesn't always work out.

Here is a video of my red serpent.

 

[DSC reef]

I agree with serpent and brittle starfish but I have to disagree with sand sifting starfish. Most will starve in a tank and die/melt under the sand bed. Most tanks they are put in won't supply enough of the fauna and nutrition it needs to survive long term. IME I recommend staying away from linkia and sand sifters. Sand sifters are sold to clean sand beds, many other and better options like conchs, nassarius. IMO some starfish should be left in the ocean.

 

[Bruce17]

Reef safe starfish brittle, serpent, or sand shifting stars are all super hardy and very cool creatures. Plus they move more quickly than many other species. More Action in your aquarium. LOL

Non reef safe and LR only tanks the chocolate starfish is a hardy option.

Most other starfish really don't do well for long in aquariums. The only real success is super mature tanks and even then it doesn't always work out.

Here is a video of my red serpent.

Is the red knoby good and hardy for non reef tanks?

 

[LAReefer4Life]

I agree with serpent and brittle starfish but I have to disagree with sand sifting starfish. Most will starve in a tank and die/melt under the sand bed. Most tanks they are put in won't supply enough of the fauna and nutrition it needs to survive long term. IME I recommend staying away from linkia and sand sifters. Sand sifters are sold to clean sand beds, many other and better options like conchs, nassarius. IMO some starfish should be left in the ocean.

I've read that too. I've had mine in my tank for almost a year and it went in 3 months and has done great! I also have a 4" sand bed so maybe that contributed to his success.

 

[LAReefer4Life]

Is the red knoby good and hardy for non reef tanks?

Yes they do well in aquariums. Just like anything though, stable aquariums is everything for them to thrive.

 

[Bayareareefer18]

I agree with serpent and brittle starfish but I have to disagree with sand sifting starfish. Most will starve in a tank and die/melt under the sand bed. Most tanks they are put in won't supply enough of the fauna and nutrition it needs to survive long term. IME I recommend staying away from linkia and sand sifters. Sand sifters are sold to clean sand beds, many other and better options like conchs, nassarius. IMO some starfish should be left in the ocean.

Is it also true that sand sifting stars can decimate everything beneficial in your sand bed?

 

[DSC reef]

Is it also true that sand sifting stars can decimate everything beneficial in your sand bed?

Very true. I also kept a blue linkia for just under 2 years before it died but that's not success in my eyes. Most people that get sand sifting starfish will not be able to keep them long term. People confuse a clean sand bed with a healthy sand bed. IMO why have a sand bed if it can't harbour the beneficial fauna you want for biodiversity in your ecosystem.

 

[LAReefer4Life]

Is it also true that sand sifting stars can decimate everything beneficial in your sand bed?

Benefits usually out weight the cons. They keep it clean and shuffle the sand around to avoid detritus spots.

 

[Bruce17]

Yes they do well in aquariums. Just like anything though, stable aquariums is everything for them to thrive.
[/QUOTE
Ok great. So would add them after the tank has been up and running for roughly a year or would you put them in sooner?

 

[LAReefer4Life]

Serpent and brittle stars are great additions to the clean up crew and hardy species. They are the best candidate for aquariums under a year old.

 

[Bruce17]

I’m not a fan of those two. I just don’t like the look. Nothing to do about the work that they do

 

[Bayareareefer18]

Very true. I also kept a blue linkia for just under 2 years before it died but that's not success in my eyes. Most people that get sand sifting starfish will not be able to keep them long term. People confuse a clean sand bed with a healthy sand bed. IMO why have a sand bed if it can't harbour the beneficial fauna you want for biodiversity in your ecosystem.

Well said. I like to rely on my conches nassirius and gobies for that task

Shame we don't have more options for ornamental stars that would do well

 

[DSC reef]

Well said. I like to rely on my conches nassirius and gobies for that task

Shame we don't have more options for ornamental stars that would do well

I know, I love starfish too. Before the 75 was taken down you should've seen how many micro brittles that were in the rocks, all these little arms sticking out. Lol.

 

[Bayareareefer18]

I know, I love starfish too. Before the 75 was taken down you should've seen how many micro brittles that were in the rocks, all these little arms sticking out. Lol.

Ha that's cool. I definitely would like to add some brittles and serpents as part of the cuc.
Would love to have a smaller colorful star. Can't see have a star that can grow to be over a foot in a 75. Would look odd imo

 

[DSC reef]

Ha that's cool. I definitely would like to add some brittles and serpents as part of the cuc.
Would love to have a smaller colorful star. Can't see have a star that can grow to be over a foot in a 75. Would look odd imo

Be careful with serpents and regular brittles, they can get large. If my wife can find it, I had a picture from years ago with a dark red brittle star in my hand, the oral disk alone was the size of a half dollar. That guy was awesome but in a fish only tank. It would take large pieces of squid, clam and shrimp.