Lid on aquarium with a starfish...?

[salty150]

I have heard that you need to have a lid on your aquarium if you have a starfish in the tank...

That the starfish will climb out of the tank...?

However, I have also heard that you cannot expose a starfish to air - and that to make sure you never have the starfish out of the water when acclimating it or transferring it into the tank.

So... I'm confused...

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

I have heard that you need to have a lid on your aquarium if you have a starfish in the tank...

That the starfish will climb out of the tank...?

However, I have also heard that you cannot expose a starfish to air - and that to make sure you never have the starfish out of the water when acclimating it or transferring it into the tank.

So... I'm confused...

I'm not sure on the lid part, but you can expose a starfish to air:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/true-or-false-if-a-starfish-is-exposed-to-air-it-will-die.88876/

 

[KrisReef]

It’s all true that you have heard things said but sadly all that you have heard cannot be true.

I have heard something similar about marine sponges. How did they put them in the bag at the fish store?

 

[LovinlifeinGuam]

I really don't think you need a lid because of the strength it would take to climb out would be a lot more than they would need for other tasks. Remember everything is heavier out of water so they probably would not be strong enough.

 

[___]

I have heard that you need to have a lid on your aquarium if you have a starfish in the tank...

That the starfish will climb out of the tank...?

However, I have also heard that you cannot expose a starfish to air - and that to make sure you never have the starfish out of the water when acclimating it or transferring it into the tank.

So... I'm confused...

I have a starfish and I take the lids off all the time. She'll crawl to the top and sometimes even stretch out with her underside right at the top, breaking through the water... so that answers both questions, they won't climb out, bc they won't like it. Air isn't great for them, but it's not instant death either. A lot of stars like lagoons and will be exposed once tides go out. It's not good for them, like any marine animal. How that helps.

 

[LovinlifeinGuam]

I have a starfish and I take the lids off all the time. She'll crawl to the top and sometimes even stretch out with her underside right at the top, breaking through the water... so that answers both questions, they won't climb out, bc they won't like it. Air isn't great for them, but it's not instant death either. A lot of stars like lagoons and will be exposed once tides go out. It's not good for them, like any marine animal. How that helps.

Maybe it's actively seeking oxygen because your DO is too low. That could potentially be a problem.

 

[___]

Maybe it's actively seeking oxygen because your DO is too low. That could potentially be a problem.

I don't have an issue, I was responding to the original post about lids and starfish crawling out and unable to be exposed to air. Thanks though

 

[Stomatopods17]

I've had more fish go out of the tank than starfish.