Red Knobby Starfish

[booth2010]

So I bought a red knobby starfish several months ago (I think that's what it is anyways). I was told it was reef safe, he said he has 2 in his reef aquarium and they never hurt the corals. Well I bought a frogspawn several weeks back and within an hour the star had wrapped itself around the base of the frogspawn and stayed there for hours, I would say at least 10 because it was still there when I woke up the next morning. The frogspawn died less than a week later. I don't know if it was coincidence or if it was murdered. I have had a little thing of zoas (around 10 polyps) for a little longer than the starfish and he never touched them. They always did fine, not much growth but they were surviving and looking good. Well last week the star sat on them for a good 5-6 hours and now they don't open at all and look as if they're dead or dying. It's frustrating. I will post of pic of the star when I get home so I can have a positive id and opinions on what might have happened.

 

[Bhawks708]

Well red knobby starfish are not reef safe ... At least not when they are adults they will eat softies, sponges, clams and I believe lps. As juveniles they will eat algae. Take it out and take it back to the les and inform them that for future reference they are not reef safe.

 

[Intricateart]

Most starfish seem to be a problem in one or another. I do like brittle stars, but they have to be the right one.

 

[booth2010]

It's back on the zoas

 

[Intricateart]

Get it out of your tank.

 

[reeffirstaid]

I would remove it. Red knobbys are often advertised as reef safe, which violates the, "if it has knobs, keep it out" rule. Ive kept them, but never with coral frags, or LPS corals, as they like to eat them. Who sold you this and told you it was reef safe?

 

[booth2010]

Well that's my only piece of coral and I believe it's dead now so I will leave it until I go to purchase more. And it was the owner of a lfs

 

[NOLA Reefer]

Take it back now! If you wait you will have no zeal to stick it to the LFS. Which LFS was it? I used to live in the area.

Are you an ORCA member? If not look them up. They are a good group.

 

[NOLA Reefer]

Not to hijack the thread, but I saw the most amazing harlequin brittle star today. Almost all white with grey markings. I so want it, but have no real use for it.[h=2][/h]

 

[booth2010]

It was Poseidon aquarium in daytona. And I've had it for at least 6 months now, I'll probably take it back and try to get a cheap fish lol

 

[booth2010]

I'm looking into ORCA now

 

[NOLA Reefer]

They used to have monthly meeting all over Orlando, but also up in Lake Mary, Debarry, Sandford. Dues were $20 per year and had frag auctions at most of the meetings. You could pick up corals for next to nothing sometimes...all depended on who was there to bid. Moved away a few years ago and haven't kept up with them. They did host MACNA the year that I left, and I heard they did a great job.

 

[Connie]

AMEN!!! I got a beautiful one a couple of months ago and it has been fine. The last two days it has feasted on two montiporas, acan colony and my beloved meat coral!!! I was going to put him in the overflow until tomorrow, but can he be exposed to air?

 

[mrinaudo]

Wow this is crazy I just picked up a red knobby from posiden reef in Daytona today and I've been told by a bunch of people them included that it was reef safe.