greenbean36191
Premium Member
I would guess that Luidia clathrata from the SE US and Astropecten polycanthus from the Pacific are probably the most common species in the hobby. I've also seen L. senegalensis somewhat frequently, as well as a few other species of Luidia I'm not familiar with. I've seen a fair number of A. articulatus (another common SE US species) as well.
Whether or not you can provide them supplemental feeding, again depends on the species and somewhat on the individual star. Most species are very picky about the size, species, and freshness of their food. They prefer small, live or recently dead food. For some reason or another most in the hobby do not seem interested in supplemental food offered to them.
In many of the studies on L. clathrata they're maintained by feeding them fresh meat from Donax, which are the tiny little clams you see burrowing into the sand at the surfline. They need almost 3 grams of the meat (~ 25 medium sized clams) per week for maintenance- more for growth. Trying to shuck 25 little 1/2 inch coquinas a week doesn't sound like my idea of fun. I imagine it was a job for a grad student. :lol:
Aside from the issue of feeding them though, if a hobbyist intends to run a functional DSB, having one of these animals is working against them.
Whether or not you can provide them supplemental feeding, again depends on the species and somewhat on the individual star. Most species are very picky about the size, species, and freshness of their food. They prefer small, live or recently dead food. For some reason or another most in the hobby do not seem interested in supplemental food offered to them.
In many of the studies on L. clathrata they're maintained by feeding them fresh meat from Donax, which are the tiny little clams you see burrowing into the sand at the surfline. They need almost 3 grams of the meat (~ 25 medium sized clams) per week for maintenance- more for growth. Trying to shuck 25 little 1/2 inch coquinas a week doesn't sound like my idea of fun. I imagine it was a job for a grad student. :lol:
Aside from the issue of feeding them though, if a hobbyist intends to run a functional DSB, having one of these animals is working against them.
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