Is there a starfish that can be successfully kept in a nano reef tank?

[Daniel@R2R]

Someone recently asked me about keeping a sea star in a nano tank. The only stars that I'm familiar with are not good candidates for nano reef tanks. ...but that doesn't include very many varieties. The Sand Sifting Star would be a bad idea in a nano for feeding reasons (basically these guys eat micro fauna and would deplete a nano very quickly...and then starve). A Chocolate Chip Star would not work out with the corals in a reef tank... Brittle/serpent stars would be easier to keep but would never be visible. I'm not sure about Linckias (I just don't know much about what they eat)...could a Linckia be fed and kept in a nano? Thoughts? Any help is appreciated.

 

[reefsandrotts]

Fromia star but it's still a toss up for starvation since they won't take supplemental foods. So I would say no to stars in a nano

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I don't know the species but I have a ton of brittle stars that never get bigger than a nickel and little white stars that live on glass and rock and rarely get as big as a dime.

They'd seem to be candidates. Both thrive in my larger system.

 

[tyler1503]

I've kept parvulastra exigua in a 9 litre bucket before. I had rock curing in it and one of these guys attached. I collect them in rock pools around my way. They're coral eaters though, so no good for a reef environment but great algae eaters. They will accept prepared foods too, I give them nori and chopped seafood occasionally and they eat both.

 

[Rob&Gab]

I forget rw name but there red and small stars eept them in a 34solana for over 7months before I took the tank down

 

[MrDJeep123]

Asterinas. :wink:

 

[Daniel@R2R]

Asterinas. :wink:

Bwahahaha! I knew someone was going to suggest those little demons! :xd:

 

[Daniel@R2R]

I forget rw name but there red and small stars eept them in a 34solana for over 7months before I took the tank down

I'm thinking you might be talking about a fromia. I had thought about them, but I'm not sure what they eat. :squigglemouth: Same with the linckia...

 

[Tushhog47]

I have kept a Nardoa Spp for over two years in a 20 gallon reef. They only need to be fed krill twice a week and they are good to go.

 

[Rob&Gab]

Fromosa star or something yes Dan.! I think that's them. There awesome And bright.

 

[Eckolancer]

Brittle star will hide behind a rock and all you will see is the legs. Just don't buy a green one.

 

[Daniel@R2R]

I have kept a Nardoa Spp for over two years in a 20 gallon reef. They only need to be fed krill twice a week and they are good to go.

Awesome info. Any idea where to buy one? This one is new to me.

 

[Tushhog47]

Our local pet store carries them all the time and said they are readily available. I don't know if you have Jack's Pets near you but they carry them also. They are normally like 20 dollars a piece.

 

[Davesgt]

Daniel I have a banded serpent that's been in my 10g nano going on 7 years now. Yes it hides but it is easily seen for hours after it's been fed.

 

[NanaReefer]

I wanna Star Fish too!!

 

[rosieosieee]

I had a fromia in an 8 for 4months, then had to freeze him. ):

 

[rosieosieee]

brittles, serpents, astrenas, and sand sifters are your best bet though.

 

[joshbbert]

Ive got a red sea star in my ten been in for about 5 months with no issues hes very active and adds a nice splash of red

 

[dhruchainzz]

Ive got a red sea star in my ten been in for about 5 months with no issues hes very active and adds a nice splash of red

What ended up happening to this fella?

 

[reefer81]

Someone recently asked me about keeping a sea star in a nano tank. The only stars that I'm familiar with are not good candidates for nano reef tanks. ...but that doesn't include very many varieties. The Sand Sifting Star would be a bad idea in a nano for feeding reasons (basically these guys eat micro fauna and would deplete a nano very quickly...and then starve). A Chocolate Chip Star would not work out with the corals in a reef tank... Brittle/serpent stars would be easier to keep but would never be visible. I'm not sure about Linckias (I just don't know much about what they eat)...could a Linckia be fed and kept in a nano? Thoughts? Any help is appreciated.