angelsj247
New member
anyone know any info on the bahama starfish. The fish store had one and it looks pretty cool, i just cant find much info on them.
Thanks
Thanks
Bahama Starfish
- Thread starter angelsj247
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angelsj247
New member
well i got the starfish.. acclimated it using the cup method.. adding water every 10-15 minutes... for 3 1/2 hours.. then put it in the tank and it moved for about a min.. then fell on its back, and didnt move since.. so obviously something is prob wrong with my tank.. any help?
techigirl78
New member
Generally, I believe that is the common name for a Oreaster reticulatus, a.k.a reticulated seastar: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/seastars.htm
The juviniles are usually a light green color. I'd skip on it if that is what you are talking about.
The juviniles are usually a light green color. I'd skip on it if that is what you are talking about.
Kanicky
New member
Eesh... Not trying to start a flame war, but Bahama Stars are good for "larger fish only aquariums." They have a bold temperament and are not reef safe.
(According to SWF.com)
Is this sea star in your 20 gallon FOWLR?
Not sure if any sea star would be good for a 20 gallon, unless it was a serpent/brittle.
(According to SWF.com)
Is this sea star in your 20 gallon FOWLR?
Not sure if any sea star would be good for a 20 gallon, unless it was a serpent/brittle.
angelsj247
New member
well.. its dead now... but i guess i wont trust that lfs anymore. he said it was easy and good for my tank, i knew it wast reef safe.
techigirl78
New member
I agree on trying a sea serpent. Just make sure you don't get a green brittle star if you go this route, they are known fish eaters. I'd also suggest reading up on the drip acclimation method, which is usually a little better for more delicate inverts like stars.
Sorry about your loss. I have two sea stars that have been very easy to care for and seem to be growing well. I'm lucky as I just bag floated them and dumped them in and they survived. Beginner's luck.
However, I've never tried this variety. I've heard that they can be very temperamental and that they should be drip acclimated and never exposed to air.
If you want to try again, I'd go for a chocolate chip. They are common and seem very hardy. It out all the time, and spends it's day climbing glass or rocks. Although it's rumoured to not be reef safe, I've never seen mine bother anemones, zoos, or mushrooms.
Personally, I find serpents a little creepy although I've gotten use to my brittle star, but you'll rarely seem them except for maybe a leg sticking out.
However, I've never tried this variety. I've heard that they can be very temperamental and that they should be drip acclimated and never exposed to air.
If you want to try again, I'd go for a chocolate chip. They are common and seem very hardy. It out all the time, and spends it's day climbing glass or rocks. Although it's rumoured to not be reef safe, I've never seen mine bother anemones, zoos, or mushrooms.
Personally, I find serpents a little creepy although I've gotten use to my brittle star, but you'll rarely seem them except for maybe a leg sticking out.
techigirl78
New member
I have a 6-7" chocolate chip sea star now. The one I have did go after multiple types of inverts (urchins, gorgs, polyps, etc) in my friends tank which is why I got it. It was fine when it was small, but started attacking things as it got larger. This was even when it was being individually fed krilll and such. I guess it is hit or miss, but I personally wouldn't risk it in a smaller tank particularly.
angelsj247
New member
thanks for the suggestions.. i wish i had that luck with just floating the bag.. but for some reason any new snail i put in my tank doesnt survive.. but i do have one turbo thats lasted a year still in there and an astea and some nassarius snails. i also do find brittle star to be a little creepy, maybe ill try a chocolate star, ill read up on them first and make sure there ok for my tank.
Wow I saw reticulated stars in the bahamas that were like almost 2 feet across.
It sounds like you are having an acclimation problem. In my experience, if the temp and the salinity are the same then critters usually do ok. Figuring this out shouldn't be too hard. There are a limited number of things that it would be.
Some acclimation advice:
-Check the salinity of the tank the critter is going into and the salinity of the water in his bag. If it's not that far off, you won't have to take as long adjusting the bag water to match the tank salinity.
-Temp is very important. Acclimating for long periods of time in a separate container means the temp in the container can get out of whack. I try to either acclimate the water in the bag while having the bag floating in the tank or by pouring the critter and water into a specimen container and having it hanging so the container is inside the tank surrounded by water. This regulates the temp.
-It might not hurt to check the PH, but I doubt that its THAT far off.
This is, of course, assuming that you don't have toxic levels of ammonia, nitrite or nitrate in your tank. Have you always had this problem or is it more recent?
It sounds like you are having an acclimation problem. In my experience, if the temp and the salinity are the same then critters usually do ok. Figuring this out shouldn't be too hard. There are a limited number of things that it would be.
Some acclimation advice:
-Check the salinity of the tank the critter is going into and the salinity of the water in his bag. If it's not that far off, you won't have to take as long adjusting the bag water to match the tank salinity.
-Temp is very important. Acclimating for long periods of time in a separate container means the temp in the container can get out of whack. I try to either acclimate the water in the bag while having the bag floating in the tank or by pouring the critter and water into a specimen container and having it hanging so the container is inside the tank surrounded by water. This regulates the temp.
-It might not hurt to check the PH, but I doubt that its THAT far off.
This is, of course, assuming that you don't have toxic levels of ammonia, nitrite or nitrate in your tank. Have you always had this problem or is it more recent?
angelsj247
New member
ive always had this problem.. with the inverts, i dont have any trace of nitrite or nitrates, i havent checked ammonia for a while, ill do that today. but when i check the ph and alk in the bag, they were at very bad amounts, but isnt that becuase of the small space? also the store is 30 min away from my house, so i always put them in a box covered so its dark, and make sure its not to hot or cold in the car.
techigirl78
New member
Have you tried different stores? Sometimes certain stores just do not have quality livestock.
angelsj247
New member
yes ive tried 2 stores
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