Chocolate Chip starfish question

laurie01

laurie01

Member
I have a question about feeding my chocolate chip star. From reading this site, I was under the impression that I have to spot feed a piece of shrimp, krill, silversides or something like that (even though the guy at the LFS I bought him from said he doesn't do that, that the star just eats algae). I tried a piece of frozen silverside on Saturday. I put it on a feeding prong and tried to get the piece off it and near/under one of the legs - without success. The silverside just kept floating back up to the top of the tank. After trying this for a while, I gave up. I had fed my clown fish frozen mysis shrimp at the same time and hope the CC star got some of that.
Do any of you have any thoughts/comments? I don't want him to end up starving.
On another note, the CC star seems content in my tank. Every time I go look for him, he seems to be wandering off to a new location.
 
earlybird

earlybird

Active Member
I don't think they need to be spot fed. If you're worried get some coral for him to eat. From what I understand they are not reef safe for that reason.
 
N

nereef

Guest
yes they need to be spot fed something meaty. take the piece of food, pickup the starfish, and set the starfish on top of the food.
 
B

brstwv

Guest
I also have a Chocolate Chip I feed him about once a week. Silver sides raw shrimp. I just place on his arm when on front of tank, he grabs then eventually you can see the silver side in center and what i believe is stomach or mouth wrap around and begin breaking it down. Interesting
 
mrinelfrlz

mrinelfrlz

Member
Originally Posted by laurie01
I have a question about feeding my chocolate chip star. From reading this site, I was under the impression that I have to spot feed a piece of shrimp, krill, silversides or something like that (even though the guy at the LFS I bought him from said he doesn't do that, that the star just eats algae). I tried a piece of frozen silverside on Saturday. I put it on a feeding prong and tried to get the piece off it and near/under one of the legs - without success. The silverside just kept floating back up to the top of the tank. After trying this for a while, I gave up. I had fed my clown fish frozen mysis shrimp at the same time and hope the CC star got some of that.
Do any of you have any thoughts/comments? I don't want him to end up starving.
On another note, the CC star seems content in my tank. Every time I go look for him, he seems to be wandering off to a new location.
my parents have one and they feed it squid
he comes up the side of the tank every morning and has a couple of his legs out and they just slip pieces down he loves it but no they are not reef safe
i wont get one because i am getting alot of corral
 
ophiura

ophiura

Active Member
They should absolutely be spot fed. In the wild, they are not solely herbivores. They would benefit from something meaty...anyone who has kept one in a reef tank or with snails knows full well they do not just eat algae.
The LFS does not keep them long enough to see any impact from their lack of diet.
IMO, krill, shrimp, squid, clam and shrimp pellets are cleaner than silversides which are pretty oily. The above are also a relatively closer "natural" diet.
 
laurie01

laurie01

Member
Thanks for all of your help! I appreciate it!
I will definatley spot feed him a variety of the foods mentioned (soaked in vitamins of course). Thank you again.
 
laurie01

laurie01

Member
I fed my CC star last night a piece of shrimp soaked in vitamins (he is only aboyt 3"); much to my daughter's consternation when she realized the shrimp was for my fish and not for her! Anyway, I put the shrimp under one of the arms & right away, the CC star moved over top of it and the shrimp was gone. I gave another small piece to my brittle star (I don't spot feed him), but he took the shrimp & disappeared under a rock. It was amusing to watch. Thank you all for your help.
 
dapak83

dapak83

Member
ophiura said:
They would benefit from something meaty...anyone who has kept one in a reef tank or with snails knows full well they do not just eat algae.QUOTE]
dont i know it... the one i had ate 10 of my turbos
it was crazy!
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