Biscuit Starfish

[AydenLincoln]

Anchitosia queenslandensis - the “Red Biscuit/West African Biscuit Starfish” - definitely an attractive species. Formerly known as Tosia queenslandensis, and still better known by that name. This is one of the few “biscuit starfish” species that the info I listed above may not apply to, as not much seems to be known about them.

MadCity Corals kept one for about two years by letting it eat algae in the tank and supplementing with algae wafers before it apparently started eating their encrusting corals (I’m not sure if this applies with this species/situation or not, but many carnivorous starfish species actually start off herbivorous and only turn carnivorous as adults - the Crown Of Thorns Seastar is an excellent example of this). They discussed their experience keeping it here on Reef2Reef, and they put it up for sale on their Facebook page when it started eating corals last year (you can still find the post). They may have gotten the star young enough that it hadn’t transitioned fully to “adult” foods when they first got it (I’m not sure when this species matures, but this strikes me as possible yet unlikely), or it - like many fish in the hobby - may have just developed a taste for them randomly. Either way, algae is a much easier thing to feed than sponges, but it might still be a good idea to offer a sponge, tunicate, or bryozoan or two just to see if it takes it.

I’m curious to see how this goes for you - good luck, and keep us updated!

Meet Cookie a West African Biscuit Starfish who is enjoying an algae pellet and the following is what a wholesaler who sells them has to say…as the general consensus is that not a lot is known about them! I’ve been messaging various people to try and get more info as it’s definitely more about personal experience with these little guys vs the science/research behind it lol.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

Meet Cookie who is enjoying an algae pellet in this photo and the following is what a wholesaler who sells them has to say and the general consensus is that not a lot is known about them! I’ve been messaging various people to try and get more info as it’s definitely more about personal experience with these little guys vs the science/research behind it lol.

You'll definitely want to feed it... although they can absorb certain nutrients through their skin, it's not nearly enough to sustain it over a long period of time

 

[AydenLincoln]

You'll definitely want to feed it... although they can absorb certain nutrients through their skin, it's not nearly enough to sustain it over a long period of time

Yup I will be!

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

Yup I will be!

My starfish is definitely one of my favorite tank inhabitants! Mine likes eating oysters!

 

[meganf]

Do you have an update with Cookie? How have things been going?

 

[Johnnyg.]

My orange biscuit ate 5 rockflower anemones and a mini maxi. I finally had enough.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Anchitosia queenslandensis - the “Red Biscuit/West African Biscuit Starfish” - definitely an attractive species. Formerly known as Tosia queenslandensis, and still better known by that name. This is one of the few “biscuit starfish” species that the info I listed above may not apply to, as not much seems to be known about them.

MadCity Corals kept one for about two years by letting it eat algae in the tank and supplementing with algae wafers before it apparently started eating their encrusting corals (I’m not sure if this applies with this species/situation or not, but many carnivorous starfish species actually start off herbivorous and only turn carnivorous as adults - the Crown Of Thorns Seastar is an excellent example of this). They discussed their experience keeping it here on Reef2Reef, and they put it up for sale on their Facebook page when it started eating corals last year (you can still find the post). They may have gotten the star young enough that it hadn’t transitioned fully to “adult” foods when they first got it (I’m not sure when this species matures, but this strikes me as possible yet unlikely), or it - like many fish in the hobby - may have just developed a taste for them randomly. Either way, algae is a much easier thing to feed than sponges, but it might still be a good idea to offer a sponge, tunicate, or bryozoan or two just to see if it takes it.

I’m curious to see how this goes for you - good luck, and keep us updated!

Well, big correction to my post here (for anyone who is interested) that Ayden pointed out in a different thread after communicating with a star expert:
This star is actually Goniaster tesselatus, not Anchitosia queenslandensis - they look very similar, but the differences I could see for ID purposes are explained in my quote below.

Looking at photos of both Goniaster tesselatus and Anchitosia queenslandensis, I can see how the mistake was made - they look very similar, with the only easily noticeable differences being that A. queenslandensis is smooth on top and typically showing slightly lighter coloration at the tips of the legs, while G. tesselatus has spikes on top and lacks the lighter colored tips.

 

[introvert.invert_hba]

Do you have an update with Cookie? How have things been going?

I second that, do you have an update?? I think this is one I want to put in my nano!

 

[AydenLincoln]

I second that, do you have an update?? I think this is one I want to put in my nano!

I still have him and I still love him very much. I feed him krill soaked in phytoplankton. And he survived a NOPOX overdose and giant bacteria bloom back in the beginning of October. I thought he was a goner especially because I lost my shrimp and urchin and didn’t have time to acclimate him in the other tank I plopped him after he went limp from being severely oxygen deprived and then he started melting away a bit from shock and I really thought he was going to die. But he has since recovered/has been back home and is doing great.

 

[AydenLincoln]

Do you have an update with Cookie? How have things been going?

Great!

 

[AydenLincoln]

And he hasn’t eaten or shown any interest in any of my corals and I hope it stays that way. I’ve been making sure he stays well fed. I soak my krill in phytoplankton. After speaking with some more experts a little while ago I can confirm they feed on microorganisms such as plankton but they aren’t well studied beyond that due to them being found deeper down up to 400 feet if not more. Goniaster Tessellatus are also located in shallower waters as well throughout the world but are not typically found on reefs. They have been seen in places from Florida to West Africa and have been observed on shipwrecks as well.

 

[AydenLincoln]

Cookie has really been enjoying climbing around this coral ever since I added it a few weeks ago. He likes to chill on the glass too.

 

[AydenLincoln]

This was him over a month ago mid-October shortly after the NOPOX overdose in a new tank. The worst photo and me panicking because I for sure thought was dead/melting although I suppose it could’ve been decaying food/fish poop or him pooping due to lack of flow as poop comes out the top. I acclimated him back in the display and he‘a since been good. I’m giving it a few more months and then declaring this little guy a victory to keep. I’ve had him going on 7 months and 8 months since he’s been in captivity.

 

[AydenLincoln]

This was him back in August before the tank disaster munching on a piece of krill. I can tell when he’s eating because he puffs up and the fuzz (papulae) comes out!

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

My Fromia starfish keep getting fatter...gaining weight nicely

 

[AydenLincoln]

My Fromia starfish keep getting fatter...gaining weight nicely

That’s good! Mine hasn’t really grown. But they are a different kind of starfish and stay fairly small in the wild too. So I don’t expect him to get much bigger or fatter. Think like smaller than the palm of your hand.

 

[AydenLincoln]

First time giving him a clam because I wanted to see if he would eat it. He approves! @WheatToast @ISpeakForTheSeas @livinlifeinBKK

 

[Rmckoy]

I have tons of these little
Guys .

 

[AydenLincoln]

I have tons of these little
Guys .

Asterina in the hobby but the actual name is Aquilonastra. There’s debate as to whether they eat coral…some do. They multiple super quickly so I’d remove it. Some people like them but most consider them a pest.

And some have said they eat coral.

 

[Rmckoy]

And some have said they eat coral.

This same debate has been happening for many years .