Fully red knobby star

[Breadbox]

Saw this amazing full red chocolate/knobby star just now, does anyone know what species is this?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Saw this amazing full red chocolate/knobby star just now, does anyone know what species is this?

Very uncommon red chocolate chip star and runs about $125

 

[Chrisv.]

@ISpeakForTheSeas

 

[A Young Reefer]

@livinlifeinBKK

 

[LovinlifeinGuam]

If I had to guess of the top of my head, I'd say it's a color variation of Protoreaster linckii...I could do some looking into it though if you wanted...if you're happy with it and understand it's not reef safe, etc., then it looks like a good find. I haven't seen one like that personally.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

So, these guys are listed as being a color variant of Protoreaster nodosus (Chocolate Chip Starfish) as Vetteguy53081 mentioned, but no one seems to actually know for sure if that's correct. Protoreaster linckii is a fair guess too, and there has been some speculation that they may be a color variant of a Pentaceraster species as well (such as P. regulus, P. multispinus, P. alveolatus, etc.). To muddy things further, there's always a chance it could be the juvenile coloration of a species, or it could be multiple species that just happen to look the same too, so I'd imagine these guys fall into the category that would require DNA testing to know for certain what they are.

Personally, I'm inclined to think it's likely either Protoreaster nodosus or a Pentaceraster sp., but I don't know for sure.

 

[Breadbox]

If I had to guess of the top of my head, I'd say it's a color variation of Protoreaster linckii...I could do some looking into it though if you wanted...if you're happy with it and understand it's not reef safe, etc., then it looks like a good find. I haven't seen one like that personally.

Certainly wouldn't mind more info on it, could it be a new species? It's the size of the palm(minus the finger) which certainly makes seem like an adult?
The ruby red dragonet has being in the hobby for years before it's recognised as a distinct specie.

Unfortunately it seem to be sold instantly, i was told it has already being reserved by someone else.

 

[LovinlifeinGuam]

Certainly wouldn't mind more info on it, could it be a new species? It's the size of the palm(minus the finger) which certainly makes seem like an adult?
The ruby red dragonet has being in the hobby for years before it's recognised as a distinct specie.

Unfortunately it seem to be sold instantly, i was told it has already being reserved by someone else.

I doubt it's a new species...it's probably just phenotypic plasticity (a high degree of variation at that)...if you really want it, see if you can outbid the guy. I personally haven't seen a pure red one like that. Of it's something that really excited you and you have a little extra money for it, I'd try to get it! Don't give up quite yet!
I can try to do a little more research into it...

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Certainly wouldn't mind more info on it, could it be a new species? It's the size of the palm(minus the finger) which certainly makes seem like an adult?
The ruby red dragonet has being in the hobby for years before it's recognised as a distinct specie.

Unfortunately it seem to be sold instantly, i was told it has already being reserved by someone else.

There's always a chance it could be an unrecognized species, but I'm currently inclined to agree with livinlifeinBKK that it's most likely just a phenotype of some known species (like how Linckia laevigata is actually an ecophenotype of Linckia multifora). Yeah, I've seen these offered for sale at 3-4", so I'm inclined to agree that it's most likely an adult.

If it is Protoreaster nodosus or a Pentaceraster sp., than it's a biofilm eater and will be difficult to feed long term - though biofilm eating starfish can usually survive a decent length of time in large enough aquariums (the smallest recommended tank size I've seen to accommodate this is 75 gallons, but bigger is substantially more likely to be successful as I understand it). Additionally, these species are known to eat corals in aquaria, so that would be something to keep in mind (this is largely thought to be a result of limited preferred food sources - i.e. it's thought that they eat corals when they run out of biofilm). Protoreaster nodosus seems to prefer biofilms that form on sediments and seagrasses, and Pentaceraster spp. seem to prefer biofilms that form on macroalgae (and possibly seagrasses too). So, having some seagrass and macroalgae in the aquarium could potentially help feed these guys, but there's no guarantee.

 

[Breadbox]

So, I little update on the little red starfish, I manage to get it for about 8 dollars 4 years ago and it has grown alot since then, it was fairly well behaved for a few years until I added some new corals a few weeks ago. Which unforunately means he lives in the back chamber now.

The brilliant red colouration have faded quite alot over the years, I am concoting a scheme where I feed it masstick mixed with astaxanthin power to see if I can get its colouration back.

I am also eyeing another starfish which is uniform bright yellow, like a rubber ducky. I cannot find a single image of a starfish of this colouration on the internet. Might be a world's first.

 

[ThisIsTheWay]

That's a really bright yellow, that's so cool!
Have you made any further determinations on what the original red starfish is?

 

[Breadbox]

That's a really bright yellow, that's so cool!
Have you made any further determinations on what the original red starfish is?

Well, it's almost certainly a colour morph of the red knobbed star, P.Lincki. I suspect the bright uniform red might be the juvenile colouration of Red knob, I've personally never seen a small red knobbed starfish before.
As it matures it might lose its uniform red and settle into its adult red and white pattern.

As for the bright yellow starfish, they are letting it go for 800+ dollars, which is quite a step up from the 8 dollars I paid for the red one.