What starfish am I missing?

AydenLincoln

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Covering all my basis. Am I missing any starfish? There’s around 2,000 known species of starfish worldwide with only a handful of starfish sold in the aquarium industry with some doing so poorly or not compatible with an aquarium at all. Here’s my list.
BA7EBFCB-1DC3-46E1-A2D2-BAF29F9BE41D.jpeg
 
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Covering all my basis. Am I missing any starfish? There’s over 2,000 known species of starfish worldwide with only a handful of starfish sold in the aquarium industry with some doing so poorly or not compatible with an aquarium at all. Here’s my list.
Scientific names would be much more helpful
 
There are going to be several scientific names for at least a few of those, some are pretty broad categories with a number of available species, but I'm not thinking of any additional ones to add.

I know acanthaster starfish are in the news a bit, so there have probably been inquiries about them, but I'm unsure if any are actually available in the industry (or legal to collect/transport).
 
There are going to be several scientific names for at least a few of those, some are pretty broad categories with a number of available species, but I'm not thinking of any additional ones to add.

I know acanthaster starfish are in the news a bit, so there have probably been inquiries about them, but I'm unsure if any are actually available in the industry (or legal to collect/transport).
Correct they are not sold or kept in aquariums nor should they be especially because they are highly poisonous.
 
I know I made a mistake I meant to just say linckia and there may or may not be some other typos which will be fixed during editing. And I know feather starfish aren’t really starfish.
 
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Some other starfish:
- Aquilonastra sp. (it seems that these are often misidentified as Asterina)
- Echinaster sp., such as Echinaster sentus and Echinaster spinulosus, are said to be reef-safe when young. These originate from the tropical Western Atlantic.
- Patiria pectinifera (blue bat star) seems to be moderately popular in East Asia, though it prefers cooler waters. I know these have been imported into the states for coldwater aquarists before. These are related to Patiria miniata (bat star) from the North American west coast, which is very popular in public aquariums and touch tanks.

Other notes:
- Double-sided starfish are also known as "icon stars"
- "Cushion starfish" also refers to a European species
- Brittle, serpent, feather, and basket stars are not technically starfish, despite their similarities
 
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Some other starfish:
- Aquilonastra sp. (it seems that these are often misidentified as Asterina)
- Echinaster sp., such as Echinaster sentus or Echinaster spinulosus, are said to be reef-safe when young. These originate from the tropical Western Atlantic.
- Patiria pectinifera (blue bat star) seems to be moderately popular in East Asia, though it prefers cooler waters. I know these have been imported into the states for coldwater aquarists before. These are related to Patiria miniata (bat star) from the North American west coast, which is very popular in public aquariums and touch tanks.

Other notes:
- Double-sided starfish are also known as "icon stars"
- "Cushion starfish" also refers to a European species
- Brittle, serpent, feather, and basket stars are not technically starfish, despite their similarities
Yes I am aware and of course there are some that I won’t be covering some of which will be found in aquariums but not kept by hobbyists for example the bat star. The bat star I won’t cover because it’s not sold especially here in the U.S. or really at all. Right same class I went back and edited it when I realized. Thanks for the info.
 
Some other starfish:
- Aquilonastra sp. (it seems that these are often misidentified as Asterina)
- Echinaster sp., such as Echinaster sentus and Echinaster spinulosus, are said to be reef-safe when young. These originate from the tropical Western Atlantic.
- Patiria pectinifera (blue bat star) seems to be moderately popular in East Asia, though it prefers cooler waters. I know these have been imported into the states for coldwater aquarists before. These are related to Patiria miniata (bat star) from the North American west coast, which is very popular in public aquariums and touch tanks.

Other notes:
- Double-sided starfish are also known as "icon stars"
- "Cushion starfish" also refers to a European species
- Brittle, serpent, feather, and basket stars are not technically starfish, despite their similarities
And the funny thing is I was looking at a chart of echinoderms…I’m still going to mention some of them they get an honorable mention lol.
 
Covering all my basis. Am I missing any starfish? There’s around 2,000 known species of starfish worldwide with only a handful of starfish sold in the aquarium industry with some doing so poorly or not compatible with an aquarium at all. Here’s my list.
BA7EBFCB-1DC3-46E1-A2D2-BAF29F9BE41D.jpeg
I don't agree when you say that some "aren't compatible with aquariums at all" they just need the proper conditions and care.
 
I don't agree when you say that some "aren't compatible with aquariums at all" they just need the proper conditions and care.
It’s true though there’s over 2,000 species so obviously only a handful are ever sold or seen in aquariums are successful longterm so it’s like saying not all fish are compatible in aquariums because they aren’t. For example no one in the world has kept a great white shark in captivity or tamed it and there’s a reason. And I know Monterey Bay Aquarium did in 2004 but that wasn’t to keep them permanently.
 
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It’s true though there’s over 2,000 species so obviously only a handful are ever sold or seen in aquariums are successful longterm.
That doesn't mean they can't be kept successfully. I think i actually recall you mentioning in a post a while back that Linckias shouldn't be kept by anyone...yet they've survived many years in some personal aquariums.
 
That doesn't mean they can't be kept successfully. I think i actually recall you mentioning in a post a while back that Linckias shouldn't be kept by anyone...yet they've survived many years in some personal aquariums.
Some aren’t meant to be and literally can’t be kept though is what I’m saying and compared to the wild starfish live much shorter lives anyway. For example a starfish at the bottom of the ocean or 20,000 feet down. You can’t keep that in a tank because there is no way you can recreate it’s natural environment and good luck finding someone willing to bring it back up.
 
Some aren’t meant to be and literally can’t be kept though is what I’m saying but compared to the wild starfish live much shorter lives anyway. For example a starfish at the bottom of the ocean or 20,000 feet down. You can’t keep that in a tank because there is no way you can recreate it’s natural environment and good luck finding someone willing to bring it back up.
Ok, it sounded like you were saying some of the ones in the list you made shouldn't be kept at all which is what I disagreed with (there are a lot of people who believe no starfish at all should be kept)
 
Ok, it sounded like you were saying some of the ones in the list you made shouldn't be kept at all which is what I disagreed with
No these are just the ones that are kept/sold with varying levels of difficulty and needs.
 
Not too experienced but my quick take:
Had a chocolate chip star for 2 years (which is obviously a NO) but only started soft corals 6-7 months ago -- no problems for 6 months then (as expected), zoa annihilation.

I'm looking to try a marble/tile star (some type of Fromia) but haven't yet.

Here's my zoa annihilation (in 1 day) thread, if bored:

CC Star and Zoas

*gave him to my LFS yesterday
 
Not too experienced but my quick take:
Had a chocolate chip star for 2 years (which is obviously a NO) but only started soft corals 6-7 months ago -- no problems for 6 months then (as expected), zoa annihilation.

I'm looking to try a marble/tile star (some type of Fromia) but haven't yet.

Here's my zoa annihilation (in 1 day) thread, if bored:

CC Star and Zoas

*gave him to my LFS yesterday
They aren’t reef safe because they eat corals as part of their diet but many while young may not go after corals.
 

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