Crinoid

[Pufferpunk]

Here is my latest acquisition, a feather starfish or crinoid. My LFS had kept for 6 months & it was eating great. It is eating well in my tank too.

This is what it looks like when it decides to come out during the day:

 

[TippyToeX]

I thought no one knew what they ate exactly. What have you been feeding it?

 

[Pufferpunk]

At the lfs it was eating Phyto. I am feeding it live DT's Phyto & on alternate days, the same Phyto mixed w/Rod's Food. I can definately see it eating w/it's arms.

 

[kmk2307]

What kind of phyto were they feeding it? I thought they liked bigger particles. It's very cool. I'd love to see more pics of it. Do you know the genus? Does it move around much or has it found a perch it likes? Does it seem to avoid bright light?

Thanks for sharing,
Kevin

 

[Pufferpunk]

TI dunno which phyto the LFS was feeding it, but they seid it was live. i'm using DT's & I spot feed Rod's Food also, which has about 50 things in it. Not sure what it's picking out to eat from that mix.
http://www.rods-reef.com/dryGoods.php?pID=16

I have no idea what species it is, but it's blue/green & black. Usually hides behind the lR during the day, but makes it's way out by early evening, when my atinics are on. Wide open at night. Seems to like good current.

 

[Angel*Fish]

I must confess I have one just like it. I hadn't done any research & didn't know they are supposed to slowly die.

I've only had it for 3 weeks. The first few days it was feeding or attempting to during lights on. Now as soon as lights are out it opens up in feeding mode. I feed tons of stuff to my tank - I think it may be eating live artemia naupli & frozen rotifers. Initially the live nauplii stimulated it to open it's arms.

I dose phycopure (like DT phtiolankton) & oyster eggs also

So far no feather breakage

Pufferpunk do you know if DT's is all they were feeding the tank?

 

[Pufferpunk]

Yup. But it must be spot-fed. I do it at night, when it's open. I'd add some Cyclopeeze also & soak in vitamens.

What color is yours? Got pics? How much did it cost?

 

[billsreef]

Crinoids are know for being very selective in what food particles they actually eat, selective on both size and apparently taste. Like most filter feeders they will pull most everything out appearing to eat it all, however, they are only selectively eat some of what they pull out and simply expell the rest. Metabolism on those critters is slow enough that they are known for existing many months before starvation kills them. Unfortunately 6 months doesn't mean much, but if your crinoid is still alive in another 6 months you'll know for sure that your feeding is doing the trick

 

[Angel*Fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6443116#post6443116 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Pufferpunk
I'd add some Cyclopeeze also & soak in vitamens.

What color is yours? Got pics? How much did it cost?

Mine looks identical to yours - although I don't see the blue you mentioned in mine
I feed frozen cyclopeeze pretty heavily to my tank - rarely at night tho
I paid $12 - What'd ya pay for yours?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6443116#post6443116 target=_blank> Well said</a> by billsreef
Crinoids are know for being very selective in what food particles they actually eat, selective on both size and apparently taste. Like most filter feeders they will pull most everything out appearing to eat it all, however, they are only selectively eat some of what they pull out and simply expell the rest. Metabolism on those critters is slow enough that they are known for existing many months before starvation kills them. Unfortunately 6 months doesn't mean much, but if your crinoid is still alive in another 6 months you'll know for sure that your feeding is doing the trick

I knew it was an iffy prospect - but didn't realize until I read up that we should probably shun them - That said - I did find a post by someone who said he had kept one a year - Think I'll hunt that down again. He said he didn't know what it was eating ---but he'll know what he feeds his tank

Mine has found a spot in the tank where it sort of gets a laminar flow - but it's constant -seems like a change of direction back & forth would be better(?)

 

[Pufferpunk]

I paid $12 - What'd ya pay for yours?

Um... $35 I always am willing to pay more for cool stuff...

Mine chooses the highest flow it can find to hang out in at night (must have a good grip!) & recedes behind the rocks during the daytime. I believe they are nocturnal feeders & must be spot-fed. I'd turn off the flow in your tank for about 1/2 hour.

http://www.reefs.org/library/article/r_toonen13.html

 

[Angel*Fish]

Thanks for posting that link -
I tried to find the thread I was talking about & never did, but I thought this one was v-e-r-y interesting. At the very least it gives us an idea of the fact that what we don't know is infinite.

BTW, I am usually willing to go the extra mile to save an organism but adding a lionfish to my reef is not an option! :eek2:

 

[billsreef]

With all the recent availability of phytoplankton and other filter feeding foods there might be some hope of keeping some species. I'll be curious to see how you ladies are doing with your crinoids in another 6 months

Pufferpunk,

You are indeed right that they are nocturnal feeders. During the day they are typically tucked deep into crevices in the reef. Night time they come out and climb up the highest points they can find to get out into the currents. The places I've seen the greatest abundance are areas of high current on the reef.

 

[Pufferpunk]

I'm a diver too & that's exactally what I've observed.

 

[billsreef]

Two good hobbies that go hand in hand

 

[Pufferpunk]

Yeah, I can't believe after 26 years of FW, I've finally got my own reef!

 

[SuperNerd]

Re: Crinoid

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6438216#post6438216 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Pufferpunk
My LFS had kept for 6 months & it was eating great. It is eating well in my tank too.

Wait a minute...exactly how can you tell if it is eating besides it...not being dead yet?

 

[Pufferpunk]

Generally it just sits still. When I blow food at, it's arms go crazy, moving the food to it's mouth.

 

[Pufferpunk]

I took a series of pics as it was eating:

It came out in the morning. Wide open & hungry.

After squirting food at it:

 

[Pufferpunk]

Crinoid stopped accepting food & started opening up. Must be full!

Crinoid feet:

 

[thehedge]

Well I wish you the best of luck with it.

Keep us updated, as I have once considered trying a crinoid, until I read that they are almost impossible to keep. I might reconsider if yours does well for over a year.