Starfish questions

[BoBoBREWSKI]

Hi,
I got this starfish from my local LFS and cant remember what type it is? Anyone know?
How do you know if a Starfish is healthy, getting enough food? For the first two weeks it stayed on the side wall of my tank and didnt move much at all. I moved it to my rock and now its moving around a little more.
Thanks for your help!

 

[Gareth elliott]

Looks like an Echinaster sp.

 

[USMC 4 LIFE]

No idea. You do know it’s best to research what you’re buying so you don’t inadvertently add something that’s not reef safe.

Other pointers:
Leave it alone and don’t touch it.
Heathy stars can flip themselves easily when upside down, a good sign that they are heathy
Keep salinity, temp, alk, ph, Ca, mag, within the levels appropriate for stars.
A lot of what you seek is on this forum. All you have to do is search for it...

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

No idea. You do know it’s best to research what you’re buying so you don’t inadvertently add something that’s not reef safe.

Other pointers:
Leave it alone and don’t touch it.
Heathy stars can flip themselves easily when upside down, a good sign that they are heathy
Keep salinity, temp, alk, ph, Ca, mag, within the levels appropriate for stars.
A lot of what you seek is on this forum. All you have to do is search for it...

Yes, I am aware of that USMC Captain Obvious :p. My local LFS said it would do good in my tank.
I did search, didnt see any pics of any starfish that looked similar.

 

[Gareth elliott]

I would watch him, many sea stars if feel inclined or lack enough nutrients elsewhere can turn to corals. The diets of echinoderms are not well studied.
But i would not call that sea star 100% reef safe if it is an echinaster.

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

Thanks!
It's been in my tank for about 4 weeks so far and hasn't touched a coral yet.

 

[Kamden Uelton]

I've kept atleast 10 starfish in my small 30g and I would have to say only Phataria Stars work well for small tanks. Mine actively feeds on my Copepod population and Algae within the aquarium!

 

[Gareth elliott]

I've kept atleast 10 starfish in my small 30g and I would have to say only Phataria Stars work well for small tanks. Mine actively feeds on my Copepod population and Algae within the aquarium!

Agree i have had a Fromia indica since November that has grown quite a bit since adding. But i really have no idea what it eats. I see it eating on rocks, filters water with its tube feet. Every website i read has a different opinion on what it is eating from phyto to sponges to bio film to detritus.

I can say air is not what kills them, numerous times ive done water changes and it has climbed out of the water and returns to submerged with no effect.

I dont think ill get another one tbh at least till can nail down what it is actually eating.