Choclate Chip Starfish Care

Tennyson · 05/14/2008, 02:29 PM

Hey everyone. I just have a few questions on the care of these guys because I plan on getting a Harlequin Shrimp and need a seperate tank to house these starfish for food. I would have to keep these stars in a seperate tank because they aren't reef safe and I have a bunch of corals in the main tank.

I could either put them in a two gallon tank or a refugium (which I'm replacing my carbon filter with). Could they be placed in a bare bottom tank, or do they prefer sand?

Heres the two gallon tank description:
1. A 6 pound live rock.
2. Heater
3. Airstone for Circulation
4. 15 Watt Light

If this isn't good enough, I could add a very large carbon filter to the tank since I'm replacing it with a refugium. Or I could buy a mini one for it. Or would the stars be ok with no filtration, and a water change once a week?

And what food could I add that they will eat? Silversides?

All replies are appreciated. Thanks

plateboy3293 · 05/14/2008, 05:30 PM

Is the two gallon connected to the dt? How many gallons is the fuge?
2 gallons is to small for the stars depending on how many you want to buy. If the 2 gallon was attached to the dt it might be possible. Want don't you buy a 10 gallon? Run water from the 10 gallon to the dt.
http://www.bluezooaquatics.com/produ...FR0ZagodZhYAoA
Here's some info on the stars and at the bottom it tells you what they eat( Disregard the tank size). How big is the dt?

Tennyson · 05/14/2008, 05:44 PM

Sorry I don't know what dt is, but I'm guessing its my main tank.

Its 46 gallons.

I don't have the fuge yet, but it will be 2 1/2 gallons or around there. I wouldn't mind keeping the stars in the fuge its just its the going to be the small kind and it will be hard getting them out of it. And don't choclate chip stars eat algea, that would be a problem if it were to be kept in my fuge.

Is the problem with keeping them in a two gallon that it will get dirty quickly? What if some sort of carbon filter was added?

plateboy3293 · 05/14/2008, 06:13 PM

Dt stands for display tank or main tank. How many stars do you plan on keeping. I still think a 2 1/2 gallon is to small for the stars. It will just get very dirty. Is the fuge connected to the dt?

Tennyson · 05/14/2008, 07:20 PM

The refugium will be connected to the tank. I am still unsure how many I will be keeping at a time, probably atleast 3 or 4.

plateboy3293 · 05/14/2008, 07:57 PM

Can you buy a 10 gallon?

Tennyson · 05/15/2008, 05:32 AM

You mean to keep the starfish in? Yeah, I have a 10 gallon from when I had freshwater. I could set it up. Would I need any filtration in it if theres just going to be stars, or would weekly water changes do the trick?

Thanks

plateboy3293 · 05/15/2008, 08:40 AM

You can run the the power filter you used on your freshwater tank.
With some carbon. No sand or live rock would go in the tank. Water changes should be done every other week.

Tennyson · 05/15/2008, 01:40 PM

So are you saying that I shouldnt put live rock or sand if I'm running carbon? Wouldn't it help as filtration though? In going to have them in a 10 gallon, but what would be wrong about having them in a two gallon besides the small size? Would it be the nitrates?

Thanks

weluvfish54 · 05/15/2008, 01:46 PM

same thing that would be wrong with putting a person in a cardboard box.
i would never put any living thing besides zoos etc in anything smaller then a 10 gallon!

Tennyson · 05/15/2008, 02:33 PM

Yeah your right, it would be too cramped I guess. So I'll set up the ten gallon, get some and see how it goes. Thanks!

plateboy3293 · 05/15/2008, 03:39 PM

The larger choclates like 3 -4 inches are better b/c they can regrow their limbs faster due to the fact that when your older you do less growing.

plateboy3293 · 05/15/2008, 03:41 PM

The reason for no sand or live rick is so it is easier to clean the tank.

Tennyson · 05/15/2008, 05:15 PM

So a bare bottom bare nothing tank? just a carbon filter? OK, thanks.

plateboy3293 · 05/15/2008, 07:40 PM

yep and every other week water changes

Tennyson · 05/17/2008, 12:46 PM

OK, im setting it up today. I added 4 gallons of my tank water to the tank, and then two gallons of freshwater to balance the salinity out. would this be considered safe water for the stars?

I a m going to add the remaining four gallons tomorow.

thanks

Tennyson · 05/18/2008, 03:08 PM

I set it up and got my first feeder choclate chip starfish. Its happy in its tank of nothing. I fed it a whole silverside, and its eating it. but before it wasn't moving around, do they just sit around where they are? It was also observing this behavior when I bought one of them. If I put a small rock in or something will it start moving and foraging off it?

Thanks

plateboy3293 · 05/18/2008, 05:41 PM

The star will start foraging over the rock put it might kill everything on it.
How many have you decided on keeping.

Tennyson · 05/19/2008, 10:49 AM

I think probably 3-4 at minimum, maximum being 6 but I'll probably settle on 5. How often do they need to be fed? I put in a silverside, it ate part of it and got full.

And the star keeps going to the surface and sticking one of its arms out and remains stillfor a long time. Is this normal?

Thanks

plateboy3293 · 05/19/2008, 12:00 PM

I feed some stars now about 2 times a week. With one Silverside each.

Tennyson · 05/19/2008, 01:52 PM

ok. Thanks.

Eklikewhoa · 05/27/2008, 12:28 PM

Wondering if you guys are cutting limbs off or feeding whole stars to the harleys.

I cut one star today and it had a hollow inside....just wondering if thats how it's suppose to be.

Tennyson · 05/27/2008, 02:40 PM

I just got my Harlequin Shrimp yesturday! haven't seen it today because it has molted, but it should be out once its shells done hardening. How long does it take them to harden their shells?

And last night I tried to feed it its first meal which it ignored because it was looking for a place to hide to molt. But I cut off a piece of the starfish, and they are really hard! Almost as hard as rock, it was like bone, and it was somewhat hollow in it Eklikewhoa. Very interesting, never knew a shrimp would be able to eat through that.

I'll post back if theres any more trouble and keep you all updated. Thanks!

Eklikewhoa · 05/27/2008, 04:18 PM

That's what so surprising to me....that star was really solid and the shrimp look so "delicate" to be eating it.

I put one near the male I have and it has taken a chunk off already and the star is still moving around the sump so we'll see.

Tennyson · 05/27/2008, 05:41 PM

Cool, I still haven't seen mine eat anything yet since he molted right after he wa introduced. It sounds so cool to watch them eat and attack a live starfish. I want to feed it a whole one, but I'm afraid it'll rot and the shrimp won't finish it.

Articles online say they eat the tube feet of starfish. are the tube feet those tentacle things starfish use to climb on the glass? the things with the suction cups on the tips?

05/14/2008, 02:29 PM	#1
Tennyson Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,353	Choclate Chip Starfish Care Hey everyone. I just have a few questions on the care of these guys because I plan on getting a Harlequin Shrimp and need a seperate tank to house these starfish for food. I would have to keep these stars in a seperate tank because they aren't reef safe and I have a bunch of corals in the main tank. I could either put them in a two gallon tank or a refugium (which I'm replacing my carbon filter with). Could they be placed in a bare bottom tank, or do they prefer sand? Heres the two gallon tank description: 1. A 6 pound live rock. 2. Heater 3. Airstone for Circulation 4. 15 Watt Light If this isn't good enough, I could add a very large carbon filter to the tank since I'm replacing it with a refugium. Or I could buy a mini one for it. Or would the stars be ok with no filtration, and a water change once a week? And what food could I add that they will eat? Silversides? All replies are appreciated. Thanks

05/14/2008, 05:30 PM	#2
plateboy3293 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hillsborough, New Jersey Posts: 1,038	Is the two gallon connected to the dt? How many gallons is the fuge? 2 gallons is to small for the stars depending on how many you want to buy. If the 2 gallon was attached to the dt it might be possible. Want don't you buy a 10 gallon? Run water from the 10 gallon to the dt. http://www.bluezooaquatics.com/produ...FR0ZagodZhYAoA Here's some info on the stars and at the bottom it tells you what they eat( Disregard the tank size). How big is the dt? __________________ Wars come and go but my soldiers stay eternal Current Tank Info: 155 gallon bow

05/14/2008, 06:13 PM	#4
plateboy3293 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hillsborough, New Jersey Posts: 1,038	Dt stands for display tank or main tank. How many stars do you plan on keeping. I still think a 2 1/2 gallon is to small for the stars. It will just get very dirty. Is the fuge connected to the dt? __________________ Wars come and go but my soldiers stay eternal Current Tank Info: 155 gallon bow

05/14/2008, 07:57 PM	#6
plateboy3293 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hillsborough, New Jersey Posts: 1,038	Can you buy a 10 gallon? __________________ Wars come and go but my soldiers stay eternal Current Tank Info: 155 gallon bow

05/15/2008, 08:40 AM	#8
plateboy3293 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hillsborough, New Jersey Posts: 1,038	You can run the the power filter you used on your freshwater tank. With some carbon. No sand or live rock would go in the tank. Water changes should be done every other week. __________________ Wars come and go but my soldiers stay eternal Current Tank Info: 155 gallon bow

05/14/2008, 05:44 PM	#3
Tennyson Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,353	Sorry I don't know what dt is, but I'm guessing its my main tank. Its 46 gallons. I don't have the fuge yet, but it will be 2 1/2 gallons or around there. I wouldn't mind keeping the stars in the fuge its just its the going to be the small kind and it will be hard getting them out of it. And don't choclate chip stars eat algea, that would be a problem if it were to be kept in my fuge. Is the problem with keeping them in a two gallon that it will get dirty quickly? What if some sort of carbon filter was added?

05/14/2008, 07:20 PM	#5
Tennyson Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,353	The refugium will be connected to the tank. I am still unsure how many I will be keeping at a time, probably atleast 3 or 4.

05/15/2008, 05:32 AM	#7
Tennyson Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,353	You mean to keep the starfish in? Yeah, I have a 10 gallon from when I had freshwater. I could set it up. Would I need any filtration in it if theres just going to be stars, or would weekly water changes do the trick? Thanks

05/15/2008, 01:40 PM	#9
Tennyson Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,353	So are you saying that I shouldnt put live rock or sand if I'm running carbon? Wouldn't it help as filtration though? In going to have them in a 10 gallon, but what would be wrong about having them in a two gallon besides the small size? Would it be the nitrates? Thanks

05/15/2008, 01:46 PM	#10
weluvfish54 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: inland empire Posts: 771	same thing that would be wrong with putting a person in a cardboard box. i would never put any living thing besides zoos etc in anything smaller then a 10 gallon!

05/15/2008, 02:33 PM	#11
Tennyson Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,353	Yeah your right, it would be too cramped I guess. So I'll set up the ten gallon, get some and see how it goes. Thanks!

05/15/2008, 03:39 PM	#12
plateboy3293 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hillsborough, New Jersey Posts: 1,038	The larger choclates like 3 -4 inches are better b/c they can regrow their limbs faster due to the fact that when your older you do less growing. __________________ Wars come and go but my soldiers stay eternal Current Tank Info: 155 gallon bow

05/15/2008, 03:41 PM	#13
plateboy3293 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hillsborough, New Jersey Posts: 1,038	The reason for no sand or live rick is so it is easier to clean the tank. __________________ Wars come and go but my soldiers stay eternal Current Tank Info: 155 gallon bow

05/15/2008, 05:15 PM	#14
Tennyson Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,353	So a bare bottom bare nothing tank? just a carbon filter? OK, thanks.

05/15/2008, 07:40 PM	#15
plateboy3293 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hillsborough, New Jersey Posts: 1,038	yep and every other week water changes __________________ Wars come and go but my soldiers stay eternal Current Tank Info: 155 gallon bow

05/17/2008, 12:46 PM	#16
Tennyson Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,353	OK, im setting it up today. I added 4 gallons of my tank water to the tank, and then two gallons of freshwater to balance the salinity out. would this be considered safe water for the stars? I a m going to add the remaining four gallons tomorow. thanks

05/18/2008, 03:08 PM	#17
Tennyson Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,353	I set it up and got my first feeder choclate chip starfish. Its happy in its tank of nothing. I fed it a whole silverside, and its eating it. but before it wasn't moving around, do they just sit around where they are? It was also observing this behavior when I bought one of them. If I put a small rock in or something will it start moving and foraging off it? Thanks

05/18/2008, 05:41 PM	#18
plateboy3293 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hillsborough, New Jersey Posts: 1,038	The star will start foraging over the rock put it might kill everything on it. How many have you decided on keeping. __________________ Wars come and go but my soldiers stay eternal Current Tank Info: 155 gallon bow

05/19/2008, 10:49 AM	#19
Tennyson Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,353	I think probably 3-4 at minimum, maximum being 6 but I'll probably settle on 5. How often do they need to be fed? I put in a silverside, it ate part of it and got full. And the star keeps going to the surface and sticking one of its arms out and remains stillfor a long time. Is this normal? Thanks

05/19/2008, 12:00 PM	#20
plateboy3293 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hillsborough, New Jersey Posts: 1,038	I feed some stars now about 2 times a week. With one Silverside each. __________________ Wars come and go but my soldiers stay eternal Current Tank Info: 155 gallon bow

05/19/2008, 01:52 PM	#21
Tennyson Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,353	ok. Thanks.

05/27/2008, 12:28 PM	#22
Eklikewhoa Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Above water Posts: 1,442	Wondering if you guys are cutting limbs off or feeding whole stars to the harleys. I cut one star today and it had a hollow inside....just wondering if thats how it's suppose to be.

05/27/2008, 02:40 PM	#23
Tennyson Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,353	I just got my Harlequin Shrimp yesturday! haven't seen it today because it has molted, but it should be out once its shells done hardening. How long does it take them to harden their shells? And last night I tried to feed it its first meal which it ignored because it was looking for a place to hide to molt. But I cut off a piece of the starfish, and they are really hard! Almost as hard as rock, it was like bone, and it was somewhat hollow in it Eklikewhoa. Very interesting, never knew a shrimp would be able to eat through that. I'll post back if theres any more trouble and keep you all updated. Thanks!

05/27/2008, 04:18 PM	#24
Eklikewhoa Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Above water Posts: 1,442	That's what so surprising to me....that star was really solid and the shrimp look so "delicate" to be eating it. I put one near the male I have and it has taken a chunk off already and the star is still moving around the sump so we'll see.

05/27/2008, 05:41 PM	#25
Tennyson Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,353	Cool, I still haven't seen mine eat anything yet since he molted right after he wa introduced. It sounds so cool to watch them eat and attack a live starfish. I want to feed it a whole one, but I'm afraid it'll rot and the shrimp won't finish it. Articles online say they eat the tube feet of starfish. are the tube feet those tentacle things starfish use to climb on the glass? the things with the suction cups on the tips?