Looking for a reef safe star fish.

[carlos413]

I am looking for a reef safe starfish. I have been researching starfishes in hopes to find one. I have a 55 gallon tank so i would like the starfish to be on the smaller side. A lot of the starfishes I seeing are not recommended for reefs because ether they will eat inverts or they will eat any and all living organisms in the sand bed. "I take that as a bad thing" i am also seeing a lot of them will live for a few months may be one year and die from malnutrition.
So far my best bet I found to be the Spotted Linckia, aka LINCKIA MULTIFORA. If anyone know anything about this starfish any input will be appreciated. also any other species that you guys my recommend. I must be able to feed and care for it and my other reef inhabitants must be safe from it. thank you

 

[spanko]

Here is some info from wet web media.
"About "Linckia" Stars: There are a great many seastars sold as Linckia/Linckia spp. that are decidedly of other genera. Some are not peaceful bacterial et al. detritus feeders as the "true" Linckias of many colors (and at least two species). Do make sure and get a positive identification to species, and research the nutritional, and system size and type needs before purchasing stars. The true Linckias are good choices where available in initially healthy condition, and placed in established, large systems (at least a hundred gallons) with plenty of live rock, detritus to feed on, and not too many competitors."

 

[ophiura]

Linckia multiflora is the best seastar for smaller tanks (and you have a smaller tank )
How much live rock do you have?
What are your water parameters?
How old is your tank?
What is your stock list?
Seastars are some of the most delicate animals we can introduce, and the system itself is critical to ensure some chance of success, so that is where we must begin.

 

[jackri]

My serpent star has been super easy to care for, feed him directly about once or twice a week and does great in my 90. Don't really see him much until feeding time if he's hungry -- then I try and give him a shrimp pellet.

 

[carlos413]

Originally Posted by jackri
http:///forum/post/3153360
My serpent star has been super easy to care for, feed him directly about once or twice a week and does great in my 90. Don't really see him much until feeding time if he's hungry -- then I try and give him a shrimp pellet.
Are they reef safe? If so how big they get? Got any info on them?

 

[flower]

Serpent stars are great, but you rarely ever see them...they stay in the rocks. I thought mine was dead, I hadn't seen it for 3 months...I lifted a rock and there it was, just a bit bigger. That was 4 months ago, I saw a tentacle the other day.
Sea stars are very delicate, everything in the tank needs near perfect numbers, and acclimate really slow.

 

[mr.clownfish]

brittle starfish are the easiest to care for in my opinion. they are pretty similar to serpents. when i get my larger 180 gal i might get a couple dozen of medium sized brittle stars. well maybe half a dozen.