Fromia starfish

[starfishguy869]

Can anyone give me the care and parameters for fromia?

 

[AydenLincoln]

Fromia is a wide range of stars. Depending on the species care is going to vary. They do need excellent water quality though and typically feed on microorganisms/film. You can target feed them though and that is a must as many stars may starve. What species were you looking at?

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

What species? @livinlifeinBKK may be able to help with some potentially useful. care info for a species or two, but proper care (and long term survival) for Fromia spp. is a murky subject at this point - there’s a lot we’re still learning about starfish and starfish care (particularly with species that are thought to be biofilm eaters), so starfish survival rates beyond ~8-13 months (particularly with the reef-safe species) are abysmal at this point.

 

[starfishguy869]

Indica

 

[LovinlifeinGuam]

Indica

Just keep everything stable, keep nutrients relatively low, keep the tank well oxygenated and watch for oxygen seeking behaviors such as climbing the sides of the tank and stretching one or more arms out to make contact with the air. If you see this behavior, try to increase oxygenation or kill some of the copiotrophic bacteria by adding a dose of Polyp Lab Medic. You will need to offer supplemental feedings. I'd try meaty seafoods first which can be fed in an isolation box if you have crabs or other hitchhikers that will get to the food before him. Keep a close eye on him and if he doesn't accept the first food you try, try another because the chances of him surviving past several months on only the biofilm in your tank are near 0.

 

[Kirschy17]

Just keep everything stable, keep nutrients relatively low, keep the tank well oxygenated and watch for oxygen seeking behaviors such as climbing the sides of the tank and stretching one or more arms out to make contact with the air. If you see this behavior, try to increase oxygenation or kill some of the copiotrophic bacteria by adding a dose of Polyp Lab Medic. You will need to offer supplemental feedings. I'd try meaty seafoods first which can be fed in an isolation box if you have crabs or other hitchhikers that will get to the food before him. Keep a close eye on him and if he doesn't accept the first food you try, try another because the chances of him surviving past several months on only the biofilm in your tank are near 0.

Hi,

Not sure if you are still following along but i stumbled upon this comment looking up fromia indica behaviour.

My starfish shows this exact Behaviour - climbing to the top of the tank close to my wavemaker and hanging one arm in the water column.

My tank has a wavemaker facing the top of the tank, a skimmer and chaeto growing.

Can there really be an oxygen deficit?

Would it really make sence to hang an airstone in there?

 

[LovinlifeinGuam]

Just keep everything stable, keep nutrients relatively low, keep the tank well oxygenated and watch for oxygen seeking behaviors such as climbing the sides of the tank and stretching one or more arms out to make contact with the air. If you see this behavior, try to increase oxygenation or kill some of the copiotrophic bacteria by adding a dose of Polyp Lab Medic. You will need to offer supplemental feedings. I'd try meaty seafoods first which can be fed in an isolation box if you have crabs or other hitchhikers that will get to the food before him. Keep a close eye on him and if he doesn't accept the first food you try, try another because the chances of him surviving past several months on only the biofilm in your tank are near 0.

Hi,

Not sure if you are still following along but i stumbled upon this comment looking up fromia indica behaviour.

My starfish shows this exact Behaviour - climbing to the top of the tank close to my wavemaker and hanging one arm in the water column.

My tank has a wavemaker facing the top of the tank, a skimmer and chaeto growing.

Can there really be an oxygen deficit?

Would it really make sence to hang an airstone in there?

Hey there!
To answer your question (the best I can), I'd first like to clarify that I still firmly believe that behavior is related to seeking oxygen. HOWEVER, just because the starfish is seeking oxygen doesn’t necessarily mean that it doesn’t have enough. What I mean is that perhaps they'll seek areas with a greater concentration of oxygen naturally, potentially even under ideal circumstances.

If this sounds confusing, I don't blame you...I suppose an analogy would be that despite modern humans having enough salt and sugar in their diets without supplementation, we're still drawn to sugary and salty foods.

I don't think any harm could possibly come from adding am airstone if there's a chance your skimmer isn’t oxygenating the water very well. The reason that certain star species have trouble with oxygen levels on the typical tank is because of certain bacteria that tend to build up on their epidermis and can inhibit oxygen from passing through.

I'd be happy to discuss more if you still have other questions or don't fully understand what I've said above.

 

[Kirschy17]

Hey there!
To answer your question (the best I can), I'd first like to clarify that I still firmly believe that behavior is related to seeking oxygen. HOWEVER, just because the starfish is seeking oxygen doesn’t necessarily mean that it doesn’t have enough. What I mean is that perhaps they'll seek areas with a greater concentration of oxygen naturally, potentially even under ideal circumstances.

If this sounds confusing, I don't blame you...I suppose an analogy would be that despite modern humans having enough salt and sugar in their diets without supplementation, we're still drawn to sugary and salty foods.

I don't think any harm could possibly come from adding am airstone if there's a chance your skimmer isn’t oxygenating the water very well. The reason that certain star species have trouble with oxygen levels on the typical tank is because of certain bacteria that tend to build up on their epidermis and can inhibit oxygen from passing through.

I'd be happy to discuss more if you still have other questions or don't fully understand what I've said above.

I am glad for you reply and i would love to get more insight on starfish care.

I do understand what you say and your metaphor was helpfull for that.

However how could i tell the difference? I am worried that his search for oxygen is the reason he does not look for food. I dont have aggresive fast crabs/shrimp that would make it impossible for it to feed on frozen foods. However i only see it in the top corner since i put him in a week ago.

It is moving but i dont see foraging behaviour. I also dont see it consuming anything.

I will try opening my windows as the oxygen level in my appartment might not be as high as it could be because of the cold weather.

My airstone is kindoff occupied by running my phyto culture. Only if necessary would i try to move them together.

I might try feeding in an acclimation box.

Can you give any advice on how to settle the starfish in?

Aprreciated!

 

[LovinlifeinGuam]

Hey there!
To answer your question (the best I can), I'd first like to clarify that I still firmly believe that behavior is related to seeking oxygen. HOWEVER, just because the starfish is seeking oxygen doesn’t necessarily mean that it doesn’t have enough. What I mean is that perhaps they'll seek areas with a greater concentration of oxygen naturally, potentially even under ideal circumstances.

If this sounds confusing, I don't blame you...I suppose an analogy would be that despite modern humans having enough salt and sugar in their diets without supplementation, we're still drawn to sugary and salty foods.

I don't think any harm could possibly come from adding am airstone if there's a chance your skimmer isn’t oxygenating the water very well. The reason that certain star species have trouble with oxygen levels on the typical tank is because of certain bacteria that tend to build up on their epidermis and can inhibit oxygen from passing through.

I'd be happy to discuss more if you still have other questions or don't fully understand what I've said above.

I am glad for you reply and i would love to get more insight on starfish care.

I do understand what you say and your metaphor was helpfull for that.

However how could i tell the difference? I am worried that his search for oxygen is the reason he does not look for food. I dont have aggresive fast crabs/shrimp that would make it impossible for it to feed on frozen foods. However i only see it in the top corner since i put him in a week ago.

It is moving but i dont see foraging behaviour. I also dont see it consuming anything.

I will try opening my windows as the oxygen level in my appartment might not be as high as it could be because of the cold weather.

My airstone is kindoff occupied by running my phyto culture. Only if necessary would i try to move them together.

I might try feeding in an acclimation box.

Can you give any advice on how to settle the starfish in?

Aprreciated!

Feeding in an acclimation box is a good idea. I've had success doing it in the past when small crabs and other scavengers are just too fast for the star to ever have a chance.
By tips on how to "settle him in", can you be more specific?

Also, since I'm sure you're well aware of the mortality rate of these stars (and the vast majority), I'm not going to get preachy. I'd be a hypocrit if I criticized you for attempting to keep them as long as you're willing to put a ton of effort into providing for it. It seems clear that you're putting in the effort by doing your research, asking questions, and questioning the answers you receive. If you happen to have a novel idea that hasn't been tried and seems like it should logically work, try it. I'd be very interested in hearing about any such plan.

 

[Kirschy17]

Feeding in an acclimation box is a good idea. I've had success doing it in the past when small crabs and other scavengers are just too fast for the star to ever have a chance.
By tips on how to "settle him in", can you be more specific?

Also, since I'm sure you're well aware of the mortality rate of these stars (and the vast majority), I'm not going to get preachy. I'd be a hypocrit if I criticized you for attempting to keep them as long as you're willing to put a ton of effort into providing for it. It seems clear that you're putting in the effort by doing your research, asking questions, and questioning the answers you receive. If you happen to have a novel idea that hasn't been tried and seems like it should logically work, try it. I'd be very interested in hearing about any such plan.

From my understanding mortality rates stem from not handling their sensitivity to changes in water parameters mostly.

I have succesfully cclimates it by drip acclimation over several hours and will monitor parameters before water changes.

Beyond that i am starting to learn about their feeding behaviour as that seems to be a mystery to most?

I did not plan on target feeding but if that is the only solution that has worked in the past i will go for that.

How would you go about his oxygen seeking behaviour? Is this still part of his accöimation getting used to different oxygen levels in my system?

It was kept in a large fish holding system at the store i got it. I doubt they had higher oxigen than in my system.

I was not familiar with oxygen concentration playing such aspecific role beyond oxygen levels that fish require for survival.

Why is my starfish not looking for food - it is not trying to catch suspended matter is it.

I would expect it to be cruising the rocks and sand for leftover bits. Do you have expertise in keeping this or other starfish?

I habe kept fromia before for several months and lost them to changes in water parameters. Especially sensitivity to temperature change i underestimated the last time.

Btw. Imo there is never something as being too preachy in this hobby. There is so much misinformation around that giving thorough advice and criticizing poor preperation is always adequate.

I also feel ill prepared right now - i remember being told about this species as relatively sturdy for being a starfish…

 

[LovinlifeinGuam]

Feeding in an acclimation box is a good idea. I've had success doing it in the past when small crabs and other scavengers are just too fast for the star to ever have a chance.
By tips on how to "settle him in", can you be more specific?

Also, since I'm sure you're well aware of the mortality rate of these stars (and the vast majority), I'm not going to get preachy. I'd be a hypocrit if I criticized you for attempting to keep them as long as you're willing to put a ton of effort into providing for it. It seems clear that you're putting in the effort by doing your research, asking questions, and questioning the answers you receive. If you happen to have a novel idea that hasn't been tried and seems like it should logically work, try it. I'd be very interested in hearing about any such plan.

From my understanding mortality rates stem from not handling their sensitivity to changes in water parameters mostly.

I have succesfully cclimates it by drip acclimation over several hours and will monitor parameters before water changes.

Beyond that i am starting to learn about their feeding behaviour as that seems to be a mystery to most?

I did not plan on target feeding but if that is the only solution that has worked in the past i will go for that.

How would you go about his oxygen seeking behaviour? Is this still part of his accöimation getting used to different oxygen levels in my system?

It was kept in a large fish holding system at the store i got it. I doubt they had higher oxigen than in my system.

I was not familiar with oxygen concentration playing such aspecific role beyond oxygen levels that fish require for survival.

Why is my starfish not looking for food - it is not trying to catch suspended matter is it.

I would expect it to be cruising the rocks and sand for leftover bits. Do you have expertise in keeping this or other starfish?

I habe kept fromia before for several months and lost them to changes in water parameters. Especially sensitivity to temperature change i underestimated the last time.

Btw. Imo there is never something as being too preachy in this hobby. There is so much misinformation around that giving thorough advice and criticizing poor preperation is always adequate.

I also feel ill prepared right now - i remember being told about this species as relatively sturdy for being a starfish…

Yes, I’ve kept multiple Fromia stars (3 at once actually) to study their behaviors, particularly feeding. I actually wrote an entire article that documented my observations. It was published in UltraMarine Magazine issue #98.

I'll try to get to your other questions a little later when I have more time.

 

[BZOFIQ]

I have one of these since last June, can confirm they eat asterina stars.

Sorry for bad pic

EDIT: I did some googling this morning because to be honest I didn't know what I have....now its clear.

Nardoa novaecaledoniae

aka

Yellow Mesh Sea Star
New Caledonian Starfish
Goldtip Starfish
Peach Tip Mesh Sea Star
Pacific Jewel Starfish