I like unique inverts - starfish vs urchin?

[saltyfish24]

I really like inverts like snails, shrimps, and crabs. I have a 30 gallon. I'm tempted to get a red tile starfish, and I've gotten mix info about them being the most hardy of starfish, but also people saying they die easily and melt away. So I'm not sure.

So, maybe a tuxedo urchin would be more hardy?

Or maybe you can recommend other cool critters? I'm also planning on getting a Pitho crab and red fire shrimp in the future.

 

[timmyrules]

If you’re into starfish…brittle stars are super awesome! I’ve had one for a year, it’s a super cool lil critter!

 

[Tahoe61]

If you get an Urchin make sure to get a clip and sheets of Nori. A newer smaller aquarium will not have enough algae.
Serpent star steal food from corals.
Fire Shrimp and Coral Banded Shrimp are easy and benign.

 

[Stomatopods17]

You can only have serpent starfish.

In a 30 its unsustainable to keep pretty much any of them.

The thing about starfish is they either have a highly specific miofilm diet that leads to guaranteed starvation eventually, or they void your rock of life and kill anything they can catch. Anything inbetween is advanced and definitely not suitable for a 30.

Red tile starfish fall into the "fromia" category of; 'eats exclusively invisible film algae only large and very old aquariums can possibly have enough of to maybe have a long lasting sea star'. Sandsifters will also starve after they're done shifting your sand.

Serpents do well because they're not predators and they're scavengers, so they'll have what the rest of your tank is having and be fine with that. Some brittles will do ok but you have to be careful which ones you get, particularly the green ones will outgrow the tank and probably try to eat everyone.

Urchins don't have specialized diets so care wise any of them (exception; long spine urchin cause they get the size of a basket ball) would be fine, just some are more destructive/venomous than others. Some will eat your good coraline algae, some won't, tuxedos are pretty safe and you can touch them without getting pricked.

 

[SquidwardTentacles05]

You can only have serpent starfish.

In a 30 its unsustainable to keep pretty much any of them.

The thing about starfish is they either have a highly specific miofilm diet that leads to guaranteed starvation eventually, or they void your rock of life and kill anything they can catch. Anything inbetween is advanced and definitely not suitable for a 30.

Red tile starfish fall into the "fromia" category of; 'eats exclusively invisible film algae only large and very old aquariums can possibly have enough of to maybe have a long lasting sea star'. Sandsifters will also starve after they're done shifting your sand.

Serpents do well because they're not predators and they're scavengers, so they'll have what the rest of your tank is having and be fine with that. Some brittles will do ok but you have to be careful which ones you get, particularly the green ones will outgrow the tank and probably try to eat everyone.

Urchins don't have specialized diets so care wise any of them (exception; long spine urchin cause they get the size of a basket ball) would be fine, just some are more destructive/venomous than others. Some will eat your good coraline algae, some won't, tuxedos are pretty safe and you can touch them without getting pricked.

No, a small chocolate chip starfish can live in a 30 gallon tank

 

[DaJMasta]

As said, most of the bacterial film eating starfish won't survive in that small a tank in the long term, but a number of urchins could be a good choice and help keep the rocks clean. If you want starfish, as said, brittle or serpent stars are your best bet (or hope for a micro brittle infestation and find a few every time you move a frag!)

 

[Stomatopods17]

No, a small chocolate chip starfish can live in a 30 gallon tank

A 12" protoreaster reported sometimes to be 15" will not be sustainable in a 30 lol

They're on a food shortage timer like the others and these stars are meant to last 20 years, not 6 months.

 

[SquidwardTentacles05]

A 12" protoreaster reported sometimes to be 15" will not be sustainable in a 30 lol

They're on a food shortage timer like the others and these stars are meant to last 20 years, not 6 months.

I know, I meant one that was 2 or 3 inches.