ric maniac
Active Member
could a cc star go in an 8g?
need starfish help!!
- Thread starter coral keeper
- Start date
clay12340
Member
At the bottom is a link to a pic of the little mini brittle stars I was referring to. I've got heaps of them in my tank, but generally I only see a forest of little red and white legs sticking out at feeding time. I'd say the biggest one I have is around 2" across. I originally ordered them in a detritivore kit and they've multiplied quite rapidly.
They come in a lot of colors, but my red and white ones seem to have taken over. I also have or maybe had at this point little white, yellow, green, and black and white ones. None of those seem to have taken off as much as the red and whites did.
They are fun to watch at feeding time. They'll grab onto a piece of food and fight with the gammarus shrimp and bristle worms over it, then the winner drags it off to whatever hole it calls home. They are also beneficial to a reef tank and won't eat your other critters.
****************Please do not post links to other sites. 1Journeyman
They come in a lot of colors, but my red and white ones seem to have taken over. I also have or maybe had at this point little white, yellow, green, and black and white ones. None of those seem to have taken off as much as the red and whites did.
They are fun to watch at feeding time. They'll grab onto a piece of food and fight with the gammarus shrimp and bristle worms over it, then the winner drags it off to whatever hole it calls home. They are also beneficial to a reef tank and won't eat your other critters.
****************Please do not post links to other sites. 1Journeyman
larryndana
Active Member
Most reef safe stars will not go into a smaller tank. they usually require 100+ gallons and 100+ lr. so in your case it would be a no for most all reef safe stars. I'm not sure if a brittle/serpent would work or not. But keep in mind that stars are VERY sensitive to changes in water. stable water will be a must for keeping any.
PerfectDark, i'm wondering what red sea star is? can you post a pic or another name. is it a red fromia star? i hope not in a small tank.
none reef stars may work as well, cc or red generals. as long as water quaility is good it should work.
PerfectDark, i'm wondering what red sea star is? can you post a pic or another name. is it a red fromia star? i hope not in a small tank.
none reef stars may work as well, cc or red generals. as long as water quaility is good it should work.
larryndana
Active Member
Originally Posted by Clay12340
At the bottom is a link to a pic of the little mini brittle stars I was referring to. I've got heaps of them in my tank, but generally I only see a forest of little red and white legs sticking out at feeding time. I'd say the biggest one I have is around 2" across. I originally ordered them in a detritivore kit and they've multiplied quite rapidly.
They come in a lot of colors, but my red and white ones seem to have taken over. I also have or maybe had at this point little white, yellow, green, and black and white ones. None of those seem to have taken off as much as the red and whites did.
They are fun to watch at feeding time. They'll grab onto a piece of food and fight with the gammarus shrimp and bristle worms over it, then the winner drags it off to whatever hole it calls home. They are also beneficial to a reef tank and won't eat your other critters.
Mini Brittle Star
*this is just a pic I found on the net, it isn't my tank.*
i have only the white guys, i would be interested in getting some other colors. PM me and tell me where i can get some, if you don't mind. or maybe a i could buy or trade with you.
At the bottom is a link to a pic of the little mini brittle stars I was referring to. I've got heaps of them in my tank, but generally I only see a forest of little red and white legs sticking out at feeding time. I'd say the biggest one I have is around 2" across. I originally ordered them in a detritivore kit and they've multiplied quite rapidly.
They come in a lot of colors, but my red and white ones seem to have taken over. I also have or maybe had at this point little white, yellow, green, and black and white ones. None of those seem to have taken off as much as the red and whites did.
They are fun to watch at feeding time. They'll grab onto a piece of food and fight with the gammarus shrimp and bristle worms over it, then the winner drags it off to whatever hole it calls home. They are also beneficial to a reef tank and won't eat your other critters.
Mini Brittle Star
*this is just a pic I found on the net, it isn't my tank.*
i have only the white guys, i would be interested in getting some other colors. PM me and tell me where i can get some, if you don't mind. or maybe a i could buy or trade with you.
perfectdark
Active Member
Originally Posted by larryndana
Most reef safe stars will not go into a smaller tank. they usually require 100+ gallons and 100+ lr. so in your case it would be a no for most all reef safe stars. I'm not sure if a brittle/serpent would work or not. But keep in mind that stars are VERY sensitive to changes in water. stable water will be a must for keeping any.
PerfectDark, i'm wondering what red sea star is? can you post a pic or another name. is it a red fromia star? i hope not in a small tank.
none reef stars may work as well, cc or red generals. as long as water quaility is good it should work.
Sure all I have known it to be called is a redsea star. Its been in my tank almost 4 months it spans about 2" thats from one arm to the opposite side so its the longest measurement. Here is a picture of him..
Most reef safe stars will not go into a smaller tank. they usually require 100+ gallons and 100+ lr. so in your case it would be a no for most all reef safe stars. I'm not sure if a brittle/serpent would work or not. But keep in mind that stars are VERY sensitive to changes in water. stable water will be a must for keeping any.
PerfectDark, i'm wondering what red sea star is? can you post a pic or another name. is it a red fromia star? i hope not in a small tank.
none reef stars may work as well, cc or red generals. as long as water quaility is good it should work.
Sure all I have known it to be called is a redsea star. Its been in my tank almost 4 months it spans about 2" thats from one arm to the opposite side so its the longest measurement. Here is a picture of him..
larryndana
Active Member
nice picture. looks like a fromia star(Fromia milleporella), what size tank do you have?
they require large tanks and lots of lr, like stated in my earlier post.
they require large tanks and lots of lr, like stated in my earlier post.
perfectdark
Active Member
Yes that is what it is however it is still very small and from what I have read in captivity 5" is about the size it will get when its fully grown. I suspect in time I will have to give it back to my LFS but until then its happy. I have a 29Gal Cube and about 35lbs of LR. I feed it too, it likes it when I tuck a small piece of clam or formula 1 underneath it.
larryndana
Active Member
good luck with that.
ophiura
Active Member
Please DO NOT get a Fromia star for this size tank. Their small size is tragic because people assume they are suitable for small tanks. They are not.
Most Fromia stars will not survive in this tank.
They are among the most delicate and sensitive stars in this hobby, and most die within a month of acclimation shock. In fact most I have seen are dying at the LFS. These are NOT easy stars to keep...and there has been no success unless you've kept them 18 months (at least a year). There is a huge secondary spike in mortality at this time, due to starvation. Most people think they are eaten, but they are not...they starve.
It is very rare for them to take to spot feeding. Very rare, and I would not be positive it is spot feeding...but I certainly would not assume another individual will spot feed.
Please, Coral Keeper, these are very advanced animals to keep and they are not suitable for very small tanks. They require large STABLE systems. Such a star will almost CERTAINLY die in your size tank - most likely of acclimation issues or failure to maintain ideal water quality. Water quality must be consistent and PRISTINE.
They require very long acclimation times.
There are few stars suitable for this size tank due to the difficulty keeping parameters stable and lack of food for reef safe seastars.
I can only strongly discourage you from keeping these stars.
Success is measured in years, not months.
The micro stars, such as Asterina, which are very hardy, are suitable choices.
Most Fromia stars will not survive in this tank.
They are among the most delicate and sensitive stars in this hobby, and most die within a month of acclimation shock. In fact most I have seen are dying at the LFS. These are NOT easy stars to keep...and there has been no success unless you've kept them 18 months (at least a year). There is a huge secondary spike in mortality at this time, due to starvation. Most people think they are eaten, but they are not...they starve.
It is very rare for them to take to spot feeding. Very rare, and I would not be positive it is spot feeding...but I certainly would not assume another individual will spot feed.
Please, Coral Keeper, these are very advanced animals to keep and they are not suitable for very small tanks. They require large STABLE systems. Such a star will almost CERTAINLY die in your size tank - most likely of acclimation issues or failure to maintain ideal water quality. Water quality must be consistent and PRISTINE.
They require very long acclimation times.
There are few stars suitable for this size tank due to the difficulty keeping parameters stable and lack of food for reef safe seastars.
I can only strongly discourage you from keeping these stars.
Success is measured in years, not months.
The micro stars, such as Asterina, which are very hardy, are suitable choices.
larryndana
Active Member
well i tried, maybe they will listen now.
ophiura
Active Member
The problem with stars is that they take so long to starve.
Now no doubt, getting one to live a few months is cause for celebration, because a very large number do not live one month in captivity.
But they do tend to starve, without showing any signs of trouble, at about the 12-18month mark. This is virtually impossible for us to comprehend, and so it doesn't seem like an isssue. It requires a remarkable amount of patience to wait that long for success, but it is really important that any suggestions are given with a lot of caution as to long term success...which is low.
Now no doubt, getting one to live a few months is cause for celebration, because a very large number do not live one month in captivity.
But they do tend to starve, without showing any signs of trouble, at about the 12-18month mark. This is virtually impossible for us to comprehend, and so it doesn't seem like an isssue. It requires a remarkable amount of patience to wait that long for success, but it is really important that any suggestions are given with a lot of caution as to long term success...which is low.