fancy_fish101
Active Member
I’ve always wanted a starfish but i don’t want to get one and it dies. Anyone have any advice on how to care for one for years?
Any recommendations for a reef safe one to.
Any recommendations for a reef safe one to.
Starfish care
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JNalley
Valuable Member
What size tank? How old is it? What's your bioload? How deep is your sandbed?
I agree with Mues here, the easiest/most likely stars to keep are brittle stars or serpent stars. You may also be able to sustain a sand-sifting starfish under the right conditions. The rest of the stars in the hobby are very hard to keep and generally last less than a year in most tanks. Very few people are successful in keeping them multiple years, though, it does happen.
I agree with Mues here, the easiest/most likely stars to keep are brittle stars or serpent stars. You may also be able to sustain a sand-sifting starfish under the right conditions. The rest of the stars in the hobby are very hard to keep and generally last less than a year in most tanks. Very few people are successful in keeping them multiple years, though, it does happen.
There are true starfish (Asteroids) and there are brittle/serpent starfish (Ophiuroids) - brittle/serpent starfish do well in our tanks, true starfish don't.
As a general rule with true starfish, the safer the starfish, the more likely it is to die quickly.
Honestly, at this point, the only true, relatively reef-safe, tropical starfish in the hobby that I can recommend someone keep if they really want a true sea star are Aquilonastra stars (known in the hobby as Asterina stars).
Aside from Aquilonastra stars, the stars in the hobby either aren't reef-safe, will starve to death (typically within ~8-13 months), or both. So, unless you want Aquilonastra stars, I'd really stick with brittle/serpent stars.
eliaslikesfish
Active Member
I want some. How many should I add? I have heard they multiply alarmingly fast.
Yeah, they're known for reproducing fast enough to be considered pests - most places I've seen selling them offer 10-20 minimum per purchase; I'd guess (but don't know for sure) that 15-20 would be enough to get a good population going within a few weeks.
fancy_fish101
Active Member
Omg, i love max. Im going to be working there this summer lol. My go to store. I like a second opinion
fancy_fish101
Active Member
75 gallon, 11 months, bio load i would say medium but i am adding more fish so probably eventually be high bio-load. Sand bed is 2-3 inch’s. Yeh the star fish i want are the most difficult ofc.
mues
Active Member
That will be a cool experience. I've been using BioReef for close to 15 years now, before they were named BioReef. Max knows his stuff
HorribleParameters
New Member
Definitely check out a Harlequin Serpent Starfish. It’s my favorite invert in my tank. It hangs out under rocks and wiggles his arms around looking for food during feeding time. Super unique black and white contrast to our normally bright color fish and coral.
Also I have a sand sifting star, but not always recommended unless you’ve got a mature sandbed, with plenty of real estate for the star to graze and motor around. Keeps the sand much cleaner than before I had it. If there’s not plenty for him to eat, he’ll starve.
Also I have a sand sifting star, but not always recommended unless you’ve got a mature sandbed, with plenty of real estate for the star to graze and motor around. Keeps the sand much cleaner than before I had it. If there’s not plenty for him to eat, he’ll starve.
fancy_fish101
Active Member
For sure. I got 2 and half year experience now. Starting a acro tank this year. Slowly learning.
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