starfish question

Army_JAG · 11/13/2010, 12:13 AM

i want to add a starfish to my tank to step up my expertise level and because i think they are neat, however most are destructive to reefs. i know that most serpent and brittle stars, with exception to the green brittle, are generally reef safe, i am worried about the dang thing eating all my snails, anyone have any good suggestions or good stories? currently i am looking at a painted serpent star.

http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/group/2427/product.web

thanks for the feedback

bertoni · 11/13/2010, 12:24 AM

The brittle stars all have some risk attached to them. The green brittle star is much higher risk. There are stories both ways with them.

billdogg · 11/13/2010, 06:26 AM

IMO, the best stars for any tank are the serpent stars. I especially like the harlequin serpents. The are cool to watch at feeding time because they can really move!. I have had many, and never had any problems with them - in fact my reef tank currently has about 15 of them. As mentioned above, the brittles can be a fish eating nightmare, especially the green. I have one that is now about 16" in diameter. After several fish came up missing, I caught it in the act one night. It now lives with Hannibal, my 4' undulated moray. Eat that, big boy!

Ones that should be avoided are the sand sifters - doomed to starve once they decimate your sandbed. Some of the other commonly offered stars have very specific diets and often end up slowly starving as well.

joeychitwood · 11/13/2010, 09:11 AM

I've had this guy in the tank for about three years with no problems. I had a very large star (about 18" across) in an earlier tank, and I caught it eating a damsel. Like many things in the reefing hobby, there is a great deal of variability as to how specimens will behave.

Dustin1300 · 11/13/2010, 10:34 AM

I'd say go for a brittle star. I've not yet made the plunge (almost 3 years now...) and I think I need one soon

Army_JAG · 11/13/2010, 01:13 PM

Quote:

As mentioned above, the brittles can be a fish eating nightmare, especially the green. I have one that is now about 16" in diameter. After several fish came up missing, I caught it in the act one night. It now lives with Hannibal, my 4' undulated moray. Eat that, big boy!

That has to be one of the funniest things i have ever heard, thanks for sharring the story! I only have 4 fish in my tank so i will know without a doubt if they go missing. i purchased the painted serpant today and i will let you know how it goes. if start seeing snails and crabs missing he may be making a one way trip to my LFS.

bluetanggirl · 11/13/2010, 01:19 PM

From what I have heard they go for the "weaker" fish.

SushiGirl · 11/13/2010, 11:36 PM

Or sleeping fish...

bertoni · 11/13/2010, 11:42 PM

Or fish they can catch.

Irvine Man · 12/13/2010, 11:27 PM

or my brand new Richmonds wrasse last night!!

I finally figured out it was him that was doing the damage. A RED brittle Star. Damn thing has had three chromis as well...

Thats what I get for just getting it cuz a guy recommended it as a clean up crew necessity. Never again will I take it without research first!!

jagr200 · 12/13/2010, 11:37 PM

I have a small brittle star in my tank. While not the most attractive things they do a great job cleaning.

bertoni · 12/14/2010, 04:34 PM

I'm sorry to hear about the wrasse.

Korrine · 12/14/2010, 08:41 PM

There was a huge yellowish brittle star at a aquarium facility that was eating another brown star. The brown one didn't have the pokeys on it, like the other. It had eaten a good portion of it's legs off. It was moved into a section of coral QT. Well overnight it moved into the coral qt area and it was assumed he was trying to get the small blenny that was in there. He's now in a fuge and can't get out! Thing was huge. First time I ever touched one! There are certain things I just don't touch yet. I probably won't touch another unless I need to help someone again. A friend lifted the rock and I grabbed the critter. Gave me the heebeejeebee's!!!! I didn't touch the rock cause it had a nem on it.

11/13/2010, 12:13 AM	#1
Army_JAG Moved On Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Fort Stewart GA Posts: 58	starfish question i want to add a starfish to my tank to step up my expertise level and because i think they are neat, however most are destructive to reefs. i know that most serpent and brittle stars, with exception to the green brittle, are generally reef safe, i am worried about the dang thing eating all my snails, anyone have any good suggestions or good stories? currently i am looking at a painted serpent star. http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/group/2427/product.web thanks for the feedback

11/13/2010, 12:24 AM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	The brittle stars all have some risk attached to them. The green brittle star is much higher risk. There are stories both ways with them. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

11/13/2010, 06:26 AM	#3
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	IMO, the best stars for any tank are the serpent stars. I especially like the harlequin serpents. The are cool to watch at feeding time because they can really move!. I have had many, and never had any problems with them - in fact my reef tank currently has about 15 of them. As mentioned above, the brittles can be a fish eating nightmare, especially the green. I have one that is now about 16" in diameter. After several fish came up missing, I caught it in the act one night. It now lives with Hannibal, my 4' undulated moray. Eat that, big boy! Ones that should be avoided are the sand sifters - doomed to starve once they decimate your sandbed. Some of the other commonly offered stars have very specific diets and often end up slowly starving as well. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

11/13/2010, 10:34 AM	#5
Dustin1300 Reefaholic Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Carmel, IN Posts: 5,135	I'd say go for a brittle star. I've not yet made the plunge (almost 3 years now...) and I think I need one soon __________________ INDMAS President Check out my tank in the Large Tank Forums, "A Reefaholic's 1000+ Gallon Mixed Reef System Build"! Current Tank Info: 600 Gallon DT, 140 Gallon Grow Out Tank, 125 Gallon Sump, 90 Gallon Fuge, 200 Gallon Fish QT, 15 Gallon Frag QT

11/13/2010, 01:19 PM	#7
bluetanggirl Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Atwater, Ohio Posts: 287	From what I have heard they go for the "weaker" fish. __________________ Nicole =] Current Tank Info: My 55 gallon saltwater fish tank has 2 black and white clownfish, 1 chromis, 1 Coral Beauty, 1 peppermint shrimp and 1 sea urchin. I also have a 48 inch T5 aqualight with 8 leds and a magnum 350 as a filter.

11/13/2010, 09:11 AM	#4
joeychitwood Schrödinger's Mod Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 3,488	I've had this guy in the tank for about three years with no problems. I had a very large star (about 18" across) in an earlier tank, and I caught it eating a damsel. Like many things in the reefing hobby, there is a great deal of variability as to how specimens will behave.

11/13/2010, 11:36 PM	#8
SushiGirl Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Fort Worth, TX USA Posts: 8,267	Or sleeping fish...

11/13/2010, 11:42 PM	#9
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Or fish they can catch. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

12/13/2010, 11:27 PM	#10
Irvine Man So Cal ReefCentral surfer Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: South LA - 90047 Posts: 402	or my brand new Richmonds wrasse last night!! I finally figured out it was him that was doing the damage. A RED brittle Star. Damn thing has had three chromis as well... Thats what I get for just getting it cuz a guy recommended it as a clean up crew necessity. Never again will I take it without research first!! __________________ Life is Adjusting to Plan B Getting back into the hobby after 8 years off. Fiance found my old JBJ 24 NanoCube and set it up for a surprise BDay gift. Here we go... Current Tank Info: Revived 24Gal NanoCube

12/13/2010, 11:37 PM	#11
jagr200 Moved On Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Montana Posts: 74	I have a small brittle star in my tank. While not the most attractive things they do a great job cleaning.

12/14/2010, 04:34 PM	#12
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I'm sorry to hear about the wrasse. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

12/14/2010, 08:41 PM	#13
Korrine You could get a ticket!! Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Upper midwest Posts: 4,288 Blog Entries: 1	There was a huge yellowish brittle star at a aquarium facility that was eating another brown star. The brown one didn't have the pokeys on it, like the other. It had eaten a good portion of it's legs off. It was moved into a section of coral QT. Well overnight it moved into the coral qt area and it was assumed he was trying to get the small blenny that was in there. He's now in a fuge and can't get out! Thing was huge. First time I ever touched one! There are certain things I just don't touch yet. I probably won't touch another unless I need to help someone again. A friend lifted the rock and I grabbed the critter. Gave me the heebeejeebee's!!!! I didn't touch the rock cause it had a nem on it. __________________ Try to keep in mind that we are all human...mistakes do happen! Be kinder than necessary because every one you meet is fighting some kind of battle. Current Tank Info: 40 breeder - started 9/2011 - platinum perc and sanjay's black photon clownfishes; sps and lps, and soft corals; 250w MH, 20 long sump w Bubble Magus Nac 3.5 skimmer 12g nano cube -serpent star, mini carpet anemones, w 6 sexy shrimp, 150w MH, maxi je

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