Thick Legged Reef Safe Starfish For 40G?

BigEZ77 · 06/26/2016, 03:16 PM

I would like to add a starfish but don't want a thin legged serpent or brittle. Also not a sand sifter...I understand they'll starve in a tank my size. Been looking at the Red Linckia (doesn't grow nearly as large as the others) or a Fromia. Is this doable in a tank my size?

Thanks,

Sk8r · 06/26/2016, 03:23 PM

Not really, sorry to say. Starfish just aren't in the cards, in general: they're too rough in a closed system. WE have far better luck with urchins.

gunther13mt · 06/26/2016, 03:49 PM

I have a sand shifting sea star that ive had almost as long as my tank cycles been done he does great and has growin quite a bit

Sent from my VS880 using Tapatalk

BigEZ77 · 06/26/2016, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sk8r

Not really, sorry to say. Starfish just aren't in the cards, in general: they're too rough in a closed system. WE have far better luck with urchins.

In that case, what about the brittle or serpent ones?

Animagus · 06/26/2016, 04:25 PM

Food is kind of the problem here IME. Fromia, Linckia are prone to starving sometimes. Those Brittle stars might eat that leftover stuff..

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-0...ture/index.php

I rehomed this one to a much larger tank btw.

BigEZ77 · 06/26/2016, 05:03 PM

Very nice. Sure would like to have one as thick and colorful.

Animagus · 06/26/2016, 05:06 PM

Me too... Giving it to somebody else was the best option though. (impulse by) I hope it's still trucking...

Ron Reefman · 06/27/2016, 05:51 AM

Serpent and brittle stars are fairly easy to keep in a mature tank of 40g or more. They do find food on their own and if hungry, when you feed the tank, they will come out from under the rocks and let you know they are hungry. I have 7 or 8 in my 4 tanks and one is all of 7 or 8 years old!

jason2459 · 06/27/2016, 06:17 AM

KP Aquatics common starfish. It seems rather reef safe and so far hardy. You'll have to get on the watch list and snatch them up as soon as they become available as they go pretty quick.

formsix · 06/27/2016, 06:20 AM

I have had 2 serpents and 1 brittle in my 75g tank for 2 years now and they are awesome. They hide under the rocks when the lights are out, except that when I feed the tank they quickly come out for food. Two of them will even wrap their arms around the pipette and let me target feed them mysis. I know they're not the same as the bright colored ones that stay out all the time, but they are pretty awesome in their own right.

Sweitz1972 · 06/27/2016, 07:03 AM

Brittle stars are great. I have two in my 55 gallon, one red and one black. Awesome part of the clean up crew.

BigEZ77 · 06/27/2016, 12:30 PM

Looks like I'll be going with one of those types. Thx

Salty150 · 06/28/2016, 11:57 AM

I guess I am confused...

Why can't you have them?

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...578&pcatid=578

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...33&pcatid=2133

heathlindner25 · 06/28/2016, 12:15 PM

Because they die easily.

Salty150 · 06/28/2016, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heathlindner25

Because they die easily.

If not feed, correct?

jason2459 · 06/28/2016, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Salty150

If not feed, correct?

The problem will be how are they feed correctly.

Salty150 · 06/28/2016, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jason2459

The problem will be how are the feed correctly.

You usually feed them twice a week by putting a small piece of mussel or clam or whatever about 1/2 inch from them (or in their path) and they usually find it and eat it.

No?

LuizW13 · 06/28/2016, 01:13 PM

Man those other types of stars are so creepy looking

jason2459 · 06/28/2016, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Salty150

You usually feed them twice a week by putting a small piece of mussel or clam or whatever about 1/2 inch from them (or in their path) and they usually find it and eat it.

No?

Some have tried that.

Salty150 · 06/28/2016, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luizw13

man those other types of stars are so creepy looking

lol +1

lifeoffaith · 06/28/2016, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Salty150

You usually feed them twice a week by putting a small piece of mussel or clam or whatever about 1/2 inch from them (or in their path) and they usually find it and eat it.

No?

I had a linkia for a few weeks. Mine was in a 46 gallon bowfront. I was feeding it, but it wouldn't eat too much. I also had a Fromia, lasted much longer, but I never fed it due to what my LFS said (I didn't know any better). I will not ever have another starfish at least until I get into something much bigger (like a 250-300 gallon).

Brittles/serpents on the other hand are awesome and are easy to keep fed. They will eat any food that falls to the bottom, and I gave mine pieces of shrimp all the time. You can get bright red ones too if you're looking for color.

Sweitz1972 · 06/28/2016, 02:36 PM

I've heard the serpent stars can get much bigger than the brittle stars and get more aggressive once they get bigger. Any truth to that?

heathlindner25 · 06/28/2016, 04:04 PM

Green serpent star of death, waits until you're poor Fish are asleep to do his dirty work

Ron Reefman · 06/29/2016, 05:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweitz1972

I've heard the serpent stars can get much bigger than the brittle stars and get more aggressive once they get bigger. Any truth to that?

Not that I am aware of... to both questions.

I have several of each and they all seem to get to about 8" to 10" in diameter and both tend to hang out under rocks all day and come out at night. If mine are hungry when I feed the tank they will come out and I make it a point of getting some small meaty bits to them.

This is the same behavior and size relationship I've seen while doing a lot of snorkeling in the Florida Keys and seeing hundreds of serpent and brittle stars in their natural environment.

06/26/2016, 03:16 PM	#1
BigEZ77 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Ottawa ON Canada Posts: 797	Thick Legged Reef Safe Starfish For 40G? I would like to add a starfish but don't want a thin legged serpent or brittle. Also not a sand sifter...I understand they'll starve in a tank my size. Been looking at the Red Linckia (doesn't grow nearly as large as the others) or a Fromia. Is this doable in a tank my size? Thanks, __________________ Russell Banggai / Yellow Wrasse / Black Ice and Davinci Clowns / Flame Angel / Royal Gramma / Blue Chromis / LPS (dominated) / Monti's / Softies / BTA's Current Tank Info: 45G Rimless, Tunze 9004, Kessil A160WE, Gyre XF130, 50lbs rock, Reef Crystals, Phosguard in reactor, Matrix, Chemipure Blue and NP XL biopellets in sump

06/26/2016, 03:23 PM	#2
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Not really, sorry to say. Starfish just aren't in the cards, in general: they're too rough in a closed system. WE have far better luck with urchins. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

06/26/2016, 03:49 PM	#3
gunther13mt Starting to help others Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: South Dakota Posts: 137	I have a sand shifting sea star that ive had almost as long as my tank cycles been done he does great and has growin quite a bit Sent from my VS880 using Tapatalk __________________ 55 gal, salinity 1.024, temp 80.4-81, 2 True Clown, 1 Watchman Goby, 1 Engineer goby, 2 cleaner shrimp, 3 astrea snails, 3 nassruai snails, 4 emerald crabs,1 sand shifting sea star, 1 condy, 1 fire fi

06/26/2016, 04:25 PM	#5
Animagus Moved On Join Date: May 2016 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 296	Food is kind of the problem here IME. Fromia, Linckia are prone to starving sometimes. Those Brittle stars might eat that leftover stuff.. http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-0...ture/index.php I rehomed this one to a much larger tank btw. Last edited by Animagus; 06/26/2016 at 04:44 PM.

06/26/2016, 05:03 PM	#6
BigEZ77 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Ottawa ON Canada Posts: 797	Very nice. Sure would like to have one as thick and colorful. __________________ Russell Banggai / Yellow Wrasse / Black Ice and Davinci Clowns / Flame Angel / Royal Gramma / Blue Chromis / LPS (dominated) / Monti's / Softies / BTA's Current Tank Info: 45G Rimless, Tunze 9004, Kessil A160WE, Gyre XF130, 50lbs rock, Reef Crystals, Phosguard in reactor, Matrix, Chemipure Blue and NP XL biopellets in sump

06/26/2016, 05:06 PM	#7
Animagus Moved On Join Date: May 2016 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 296	Me too... Giving it to somebody else was the best option though. (impulse by) I hope it's still trucking...

06/27/2016, 05:51 AM	#8
Ron Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cape Coral, FL Posts: 10,431	Serpent and brittle stars are fairly easy to keep in a mature tank of 40g or more. They do find food on their own and if hungry, when you feed the tank, they will come out from under the rocks and let you know they are hungry. I have 7 or 8 in my 4 tanks and one is all of 7 or 8 years old! __________________ The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. (Neil deGrasse Tyson) Visit my build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2593017

06/27/2016, 06:17 AM	#9
jason2459 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Iowa Posts: 9,671	KP Aquatics common starfish. It seems rather reef safe and so far hardy. You'll have to get on the watch list and snatch them up as soon as they become available as they go pretty quick. __________________ rebuild and recovery log: No more red house, you'll have to click on my name and visit my homepage! You can check out my parameters at reeftronics dot net website and look for my username. Current Tank Info: 180g mixed reef w/ a beananimal overflow to a dolomite RRUGF. \| 20g long G. Smithii Mantis Tank

06/27/2016, 06:20 AM	#10
formsix Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: St Louis, MO Posts: 341	I have had 2 serpents and 1 brittle in my 75g tank for 2 years now and they are awesome. They hide under the rocks when the lights are out, except that when I feed the tank they quickly come out for food. Two of them will even wrap their arms around the pipette and let me target feed them mysis. I know they're not the same as the bright colored ones that stay out all the time, but they are pretty awesome in their own right.

06/27/2016, 07:03 AM	#11
Sweitz1972 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 42	Brittle stars are great. I have two in my 55 gallon, one red and one black. Awesome part of the clean up crew.

06/27/2016, 12:30 PM	#12
BigEZ77 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Ottawa ON Canada Posts: 797	Looks like I'll be going with one of those types. Thx __________________ Russell Banggai / Yellow Wrasse / Black Ice and Davinci Clowns / Flame Angel / Royal Gramma / Blue Chromis / LPS (dominated) / Monti's / Softies / BTA's Current Tank Info: 45G Rimless, Tunze 9004, Kessil A160WE, Gyre XF130, 50lbs rock, Reef Crystals, Phosguard in reactor, Matrix, Chemipure Blue and NP XL biopellets in sump

06/28/2016, 11:57 AM	#13
Salty150 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Posts: 1,345	I guess I am confused... Why can't you have them? http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...578&pcatid=578 http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...33&pcatid=2133

06/28/2016, 12:15 PM	#14
heathlindner25 Moved On Join Date: May 2012 Location: flowery branch georgia Posts: 3,644	Because they die easily.

06/28/2016, 01:13 PM	#18
LuizW13 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Under the sea Posts: 309	Man those other types of stars are so creepy looking

06/28/2016, 02:36 PM	#22
Sweitz1972 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 42	I've heard the serpent stars can get much bigger than the brittle stars and get more aggressive once they get bigger. Any truth to that?

06/28/2016, 04:04 PM	#23
heathlindner25 Moved On Join Date: May 2012 Location: flowery branch georgia Posts: 3,644	Green serpent star of death, waits until you're poor Fish are asleep to do his dirty work