Battle of the Inverts! Who is the star of the show, Starfish or Urchins?

[AlyciaMarie]

Inverts tend to be often overlooked by us hobbyists. Still, Starfish and Sea Urchins are both iconic and easily recognizable members of our tanks, even to people who haven't the slightest clue about reefing. But is one more favorable in your eyes than the other? Let's find out!

Battle of the Inverts: Starfish or Sea Urchins?

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

I think the poll will show the vast majority of people would prefer starfish but to maintain them for any reasonable amount of time requires learning about them and actively tending to their needs whereas most urchins require far less.

 

[Dburr1014]

I can't choose

 

[William Chiavetta]

Following!

 

[Outlaw Corals]

I went with urchin, they taste much better

 

[dakoop]

Urchin. Starfish are finicky imo

 

[JoJosReef]

Urchins! Starfish don't do this.

I realize some people might find this a reason NOT to like urchins

 

[KrisReef]

I have never heard of anyone buying shrimp to eat urchin outbreaks but urchins are famous for moving things around. My snails do enough of that, so I guess they are tide, gone out of my aquarium?

 

[ScottJ]

He's been wearing the Yoda ears upside down for a couple weeks now.

 

[rhitee93]

I love starfish, but have stayed away because of the dietary needs. Outside of the brittle/serpent stars, are there any that actually do well in our tanks? My understanding is that they are all slowly starving to death.

I also love urchins, but have not put one in because I have enough bulldozers in the tank already

 

[reef tank 2.0]

both are awesome creatures. both have their own pros and cons. I selected "no way to choose".
although they are not considered a traditional sea star/starfish, I do own a serpent sea star. i hand feed him daily. Only downside for me is that he doesn't come out of his cave during daylight/lights on. I only see his arms when he is taking food from my hand.

I think i'd like to have a pincushion somewhere down the line, but I'm not too sure. I don't have enough for them to eat and I only have a 80 gallon tank. not much room for him to move around. not to mention the amount of things he'd relocate. but urchins are cool regardless

 

[BristleWormHater]

I can't choose

That poor snail in the first pic lol

 

[toi_ss]

In terms of looks, it has to go to starfish but urchins are much easier and provide better utility. Except for longspine urchins, god I hate them

 

[Mr. Acantho]

Tuxedo urchins

Better workers & more harder

Lost my starfish in less than a week. Basic sand sifting

Two Tuxedo urchins will have a 1 year anniversary next month

 

[Barncat]

Can't help but vote sea urchins 'cus lookit how fabulous my tuxedo girl(?lol) Doughnut is with her feather boa of non-pulsing xenia!

 

[JayM]

If it’s based purely on aesthetics, it would easily be starfish for the win.

If we’re talking care/feeding requirements and utility, urchins all the way.

I voted urchin.

 

[reinert]

I'm new to this still. I had an urchin, but it was the first creature to go throughout the ugliest stages. My tank is now 8 months old. This is my first star and it's been with me maybe a month now. We'll see how it goes.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

I'm new to this still. I had an urchin, but it was the first creature to go throughout the ugliest stages. My tank is now 8 months old. This is my first star and it's been with me maybe a month now. We'll see how it goes.

Id strongly advise you to try to identify the species. Judging only by the pictures it looks like it's a species that probably feeds on biofilm. Are you feeding it?

 

[TangerineSpeedo]

I raised StarLA from basically Zooplankton and she is the "Star" of my temperate tank to the point it revolves around her. She is probably four plus inches now...

 

[steveschuerger]