recommendations on a star fish

[widiver]

Hi all
Does anyone have any recommendations for a starfish for a 75 gal FOWLR setup. The tank had been running for almost a year and I was thinking of adding a starfish but I heard they can be difficult to keep. Is there one that does better than others or should I forget the idea.

thanks
John

 

[capncapo]

Some of the brittle or serpent stars would be OK just make sure to stay away from the green brittle star. They are VERY predatory and are supposed to be quite good at catching fish.

 

[romunov]

Steer away from starfishes. We really don't know what they eat, let alone provide them with that. The only starfish does does well is Asterina.

 

[Bojan]

Re: recommendations on a star fish

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6643796#post6643796 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by widiver
Hi all
Does anyone have any recommendations for a starfish for a 75 gal FOWLR setup. The tank had been running for almost a year and I was thinking of adding a starfish but I heard they can be difficult to keep. Is there one that does better than others or should I forget the idea.

thanks
John

Asterina (small starfish, 1/2") is easy to keep.

Fromia are very very problematic. Most of them live only one year in the aquarium.

Is it possible to keep Linckia laevigata more than 2 years. Some aquarists have success with this starfish, other not.

Knob SeaStars are not reef safe.

 

[widiver]

Thanks for the replys

I would hate to put something in the tank thats doomed from the start

John

 

[Monkeyfish]

For an established FOWLR I'd go with either a protoreaster linckii (red knob) or a chocolate chip starfish (can't remember the Latin, sorry). They eat everything, but also need some sponge in their diet. I feed mine (chocolate chip) silversides, clam, seaweed selects, mysis shrimp and ocean nutrition Angel food. Been doing well for about a year now. Not that I consider a year with a starfish to be successful, but he seems to be doing well so far.

 

[rustybucket145]

I had a choc-chip starfish in my old FOWLR 55gal and I had it trained. When I got home from work around 5 everyday I would feed my fish, well one day the starfish was at the top of the glass with two of his leggs attached to the glass and the rest of his body was floating upside down with his 'mouth' up. I got a syringe and filled up his mouth with brine shrimp. It was really cool to watch him eat. From that day foward every afternoon around feeding time he would make his way to the top of the tank for his meal.
Really cool starfish, great conversation piece and mine lived 3 years before I had to remove & trade him b/c I was going to a reef/fish tank. I miss him They love eating small anemone's and baby corals