Adding a starfish

[coop21]

At what point can I add a starfish? Should I wait until the cycle is finished, or can I add one now with the hermit crabs and snails? 20 gal. has been up for two weeks. Thanks for your help!!!!!!

 

[pufferlover]

I would wait for the cycle to finish if it were me.

 

[mr . salty]

Starfish,like most inverts can not survive the toxic levels of ammo and nitrite that the cycle creates. I'm surprised you have any crabs or snails left.Definatly wait till the cycle is done.Then add a couple of months for the tank to stabalize.Most starfish are pretty delicate when it comes to water quality.

 

[coop21]

Thanks for the heads up. The LFS in Tacoma, Wa. told me to add the crabs and snails right away. So far, so good. I feel bad for those little guys that I didn't come to you first before believing a LFS. I feel like I've cheated on you!! Thanks for all the great info. It's nice to know there's someone out there who cares. Coop.

 

[kappadoku]

Ive heard of people adding the clean up crew on day one, but I personally like to have something for them to eat before I drop them in, I hate flushing money down the commode...
As for the starfish, definatly wait...
[ April 26, 2001: Message edited by: KappaDoku ]

 

[diatom]

When you do get one make sure you take extra care in when adding it to the tank. Some stars are very sensitive to the change in salinity. I've even read that touching some with your hands could kill them, but I'm not sure about that. Best of luck.
Brent

 

[johnnysalt]

Oh yeah, Coop, do NOT get a chocalate chip starfish...for the love of your other inverts! Mine ate two or three snails...took it back to the lfs. gonna get a brittle instead. Don't get a sand sifting starfish if you have live sand as it will sift your sand, eat the stuff in the sand, and leave you with what? dead sand.
HTH

 

[bayouguy]

Um, since I just converted to a DSB, can you tell me if this starfish below is a troublemaker?? He seems to be doing well in the tank so far - is he going to kill the sand?