How do you feed a choclate chip starfish silversides

[highhopes592003]

I got a couple choclate chip starfish. The fella said theyd help with this green dust algae and that theyd eat silversides. I was wandering how to feed them. Do I put alittle piece of silverside up under them or the whole fish. Its seeming they ignore it if I put it beside them and they other fish nibble at it and steal it. I didnt want to do anything to hurt them so thought Id better ask the right way to do it. Thanks so much

[Angel*Fish]

You bought two?

Do you have corals or anemones? They are not reef safe or live rock safe. Even if you have it eating (and I would try sponge and other sessile invertebrates, not fish), they will likely die of malnutrition because you cannot provide their natural diet.

[cornychick]

Mine parks on the front glass waterline on a regular basis with one of his arms bent back. I put about a pea size piece of food grade fish close to his center and he takes it from there.

[highhopes592003]

I do have condy anemones but gave all the coral away. That fella at the pet shop said they eat silversides, boy am I a idiot once agian. Ive got to stop listening to these pet shop kids and maybe even take my phone in with me and look it up myself. Niether of them has bothered the anemones but if they get hungry they just might get sick of algae and eat the anemones, do ya think. The fella talked to us forever helping us and really sounded like he knew what he was talking about. Guessin he just didnt know but told him what I had in my tank.

Anyhoo can I ask another dumb question when I go to the pet shop what exactly do I ask for so I can feed the starfish right. Is there a powder food or something that Id soak a natural sponge in and put it in the tank for them. Is that where the sponge comes in? What kinds of critters would be sessile invertebrates. Like what would I ask for.

Sorry I feel stupid now cause I thought I knew somewhat of what I was doing, gosh makes me wonder if Ill ever get anything right lol. I ordered some books so hoping theyll help me understand more. Thanks so much for letting me know I sure do appreciate it.

[Angel*Fish]

Omg I'm so sorry I didn't want to make you feel bad. From what I've read on RC, it's pretty normal for a new hobbyist to buy one of these critters without knowing. I wouldn't feel guilty. The LFS's all have them. People figure that means they are viable pets.

I don't know of anything you can buy for them - they just aren't really suitable for our tanks. They do sell sponge food for angels, but I don't know that they would eat that. At least you do have a large tank.

FWIW, here's what I would do. I wouldn't keep them because I would be concerned they'd eat stuff on my LR that I might not want eaten. It's not like there'd be enough to sustain them if the right food was on there anyway. I'd make a political statement by taking them back to the LFS, arming myself with some info about them. Your LFS may even sell a book that explains the problems with nutrition. Look for a small paperback: Marine Invertebrates - 500+ Essential to Know Species by Ron Shimek PhD

They will likely live 1-3 years in your tank. Personally I wouldn't want to watch it.

Sorry I didn't mean to spoil it for you.

[Allmost]

I have one in my FOWLR tank

feed it silverside or krill ince ina a while (once a week usually)

been there for 2 years now ...
lost 2 legs and grew them back as well lol (legs were eaten by my trigger I think while I was away)

[highhopes592003]

Awe sweetie, its not you guys or even the lfs guy. I should of once agian looked it up before i bought. Its me not anyone else. You didnt make me feel bad. I cant thank all of you enough for helping me along. I just thought since I dont have corals itd be ok to get them. Guessin me or the lfs guy wasnt thinking about my anemones and when I went on a google search looks like theyll eat my snails and small hermits. I should be doing right by my critters in this tank and seems like when I think I got something figured out Im not even close lol.

I had a 40 gallon for 2 years and barely had a problem ever and just dont see why I cant get it right with this one. Its only what 60 gal. more and the exact same set up but a way better set up. Guessing now though Im adding critters to the tank too. Naw if it wasnt for all you guys to help me along and reading your posts its hard to tell what Id done already. I appreciate your honest opinions and answers. It dont make me feel bad, it makes me learn and boy am I needing that lol. That means more to me than anyone could imagine and Thank you so much. Now I know the truth about choc. chip starfish where the lfs guy didnt know So thank ya megabunches.