Starfish in FOWLR?

[Snausy]

Well my wife really wants a starfish, maybe a chocolate chip. Heck any starfish.

First, is it even possible with my tank?(dogface puffer, harlequin tusk, bluethroat trigger, flame hawkfish, matted filefish)

I worry about the puffer trying him out as a gummy starfish.

If it is possible what are some of the effects of having a starfish in your tank? Can it be a problem or do they pretty much just stick to their own business?

Thanks for any replies. My wife is hounding me about it and wanted me to ask you guys because quite frankly I have no idea.

 

[stangd1909]

Not with a puffer...they will eat them.

 

[dviper150]

I have a red knob starfish in my FOWLR setup with a clown trigger and puffer and they don't touch it. The puffer is a blue spotted toby puffer so not sure if that makes a difference.

 

[Recty]

I have a red knob starfish in my FOWLR setup with a clown trigger and puffer and they don't touch it. The puffer is a blue spotted toby puffer so not sure if that makes a difference.

Yep, a toby is a whole different beast when compared to a dogface

I wouldnt risk a starfish, an inquisitive puffer will make short work of it most likely.

 

[geaux xman]

how about starfish with some large angels(emperor/blueface/etc)?

 

[fish stalker]

I have found that any fish that likes to pick at the rocks will take a shot at the starfish and well a dogface :spin3:........... Will be having lunch.

 

[natebedwell06]

i would def worry about the tusk and dogface, i have a red knobby star in my tank and my blue spiny lobster picks at him but then loses interested and eats my snails and hermits instead

 

[ashtree68]

The tusk would go after the starfish? Hmm...maybe rethinking adding a tusk, darn.

 

[natebedwell06]

not nec. just saying it is possible, we have a tusk at work that eats starfish, snails, hermits, shrimp, anything he can get ahold it, they not what i consider an aggressive fish, just a voracious appetite

 

[lagatbezan]

the star would be a nice expensive dinner for the puffer. I made that mistake before. I used to have a puffer that never touched any of my crabs or snails. I added a Brittle star thinking that it would be okay since they tend to stay mostly behind and under the rocks. My puffer had a $18.00 snack that day!

 

[geaux xman]

no one answered...

would a starfish work with large angels(emperor/blueface/etc)?

 

[natebedwell06]

angels are never guarenteed really, some nip some dont, they should nip at a starfish but there is no guarentee, but if i was going to guess i would say a angel would be fine

 

[Snausy]

I knew it deep down. The dogface and the tusk were always my main concern. My tusk takes five snails and drags them all to his "lair" to be eaten later. He sleeps on them at night like they are pillows. lol He is seriously funny and my family loves him to death.

IMHO(no offense to anyone) anyone who would NOT get an amazing fish like a harlequin tusk just because they want a starfish in their tank has their priorities backwards. My tusk is a huge personality that can only be matched by a puffer and a trigger(two of the biggest personality fish you can get)

I will ALWAYS have a tusk/dogface/trigger combo nomatter what the concequences. Snails and crabs can be replaced easily and cheaply, the tusk can't.

It's more a tank of pets than a "fishtank" if you know what I mean.

Cheers everyone, thanks for the insight. :beer:

 

[namxas]

I've never quite understood the "need" for starfish either...very few actually thrive in captive systems, and many of those that do are predatory and will indeed snack on sleeping fish and other critters.

Also, in a FO setup, the NO3 is typically a bit high for most starfish to even acclimate well.

You could always just get cheap stars and replace them when eaten...