star i brought home from the carribean

[7808]

sister found this on shore, alive, so we kept it and now its far away back in my tank. i think it might be a choclate chip star? not sure, anyone know? seems to be just fine whatever kind it is

 

[philter4]

It is a juv bahama sea star, Oreaster reticulatus. It is pretty common, but gets big, over 14 inches the spines don't grow with the star so as adults they don't look spiny. Now for the bad news---It's illegal to touch them, $500 fine for messing with them and your not allowed to own them. Don't tell anyone elso you have it.

 

[Sk8r]

Put it back, that's the best thing for it and you.

 

[Koshmar]

Why is it illegal to touch them if they are common?

 

[philter4]

They were almost gone because they are shallow big and pretty when dried out so they were collected by the millions in the 70's. They are finally making a comeback, but are still protected.

 

[7808]

oops. maybe i saved it? anyways i cant put it back now i dont have an airplane

i googled it a little, i cant find where it says its protected, any more info on that?

 

[Letmegrow]

You didn't save it.

It can not breed now.
So you condemned it and any potential mate it ever would have.
That is just as bad as killing it.

Did you have a fishing license to collect it ?
If not, right there you violated the law.
Keep googling to find out if they are specifically protected.

 

[philter4]

Look up fishing regulations for FL, I don't have the link, but in the restricted species list it is there, it is the only star that is protected.

 

[7808]

what if it was found outside the US? i suppose that still makes it not ok to have in a aquarium.. well if it matters it was out of the water and probly not a good chance of making it back when i got it, had i not came along it might have just died, but yes i could have put it in back in the water, but i did not know it looked exactly like the ones ive seen at the LFS for $6 to me

 

[siren]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14252021#post14252021 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Letmegrow
You didn't save it.

It can not breed now.
So you condemned it and any potential mate it ever would have.
That is just as bad as killing it.

Did you have a fishing license to collect it ?
If not, right there you violated the law.
Keep googling to find out if they are specifically protected.

By that logic, we've condemned almost all of our fish and inverts.

 

[Letmegrow]

Siren that is more than obvious.

We aren't thinking or claiming to have saved our tank inhabitants.

I wonder if the RC name Captain Obvious was already taken ?