New fromia star

[shoreliner11]

Here's the pic.
Its a fromia milleporella. He's in a 20gal reef, so we'll see how he does. I'm going to see if he'll accept a spot feeding just to supplement his diet.
Ophiura-I'll keep you posted on his health. I've only had him about a week and seems to be doing great but give me 6 months and we'll see.

 

[jlm]

what do these eat?

 

[shoreliner11]

Detritus, algae, and microorganisms.

 

[ophiura]

I'm not sure on the detritus, and to clarify it isn't going to eat "nuissance" algae such as hair, slime, etc...basically they are eating microbial/baterial films, potentially little encrusting stuff on LR like sponges and bryozoans...or the microfauna that feed on these.
Let me know if it takes to any spot feeding.

 

[shoreliner11]

I wasn't sure about the detritus but another farely popular site which sells them did say it did. But then again, the same site isn't known for their complete accuracy of info for many species.

 

[ophiura]

It is hard to fault them though...I doubt many seastar scientists truly know either. But I know that if they eat detritus and common algae types, most of us would have no trouble keeping any of these guys! Sigh, I can only wish.....

 

[fmelindy]

I have had two fromia sp. stars in my tank now for over three months and they are doing well and have increased in size since I put them in. Contrary to what everyone seems to indicate I have found them hardy. I had two others in there before I went away on vacation last year and lost everything in a power failure while I was gone

They also did well and were in my tank for at least six months and had nearly doubled in size when I lost them. I found fromia stars to be very hardy and colorful additions. Maybe I just got lucky (though it would be the first thing I've gotten lucky with in this hobby and somehow echinoderms doesn't seem to be a likely palce to start having good luck!).

 

[shoreliner11]

Well I have tried on two different occasions to try and spot feed him/her with no luck. I have tried krill and mysis. Should I try some nori? I tried these simply because I feed them to my fish and inverts. Any certain things I certain foods I should try or methods of spot feeding?
Aaron

 

[fmelindy]

I concur with Ophiura on this one - they will eat bacterial films on live rock, glass, etc.. It is both unnecessary and unproductive to spot feed them in my experience.

 

[tronicsdr]

Nice Pic BTW:happyfish

 

[shoreliner11]

Yeah, it was more of an experiment than anything else. Because I have a small tank I am unsure whether he will have enough food long term. This is one of the smallest reefsafe stars readily available which is why I picked him up. I'll just watch him closely.

 

[ophiura]

From what I have been able to tell, Fromia should not, in general, be considered a particularly tough star...certainly those I have seen at an LFS would at the very least seem to prove their sensitivity to acclimation is similar to Linckia's. In certain tanks, certain situations....(my now standard disclaimer) they may work out. Most I've seen at an LFS are disintegrating and I still hear few success stories with these stars over a year, which is the critical amount of time. They may eat well the first few months, like mandarin dragonettes, but then eat themselves out of food because it is slow to regrow. Their specific diet is unknown...but assumed to be bacterial/algal films or encrusting sponges, etc.
I am willing (and would LOVE) to believe they are tougher than people think. However I am uncertain why, if they were tougher and easier to care for, they would not be sold more commonly and be in better shape when I've seen them. So I am eager to hear any news on them...but especially after a year, and especially in reference to eating any food....frankly if it works, I want to be the first in line for one

 

[promisetbg]

Shoreliner,how is it going w/ this star?I saw some at a shop the other day...just curious:thinking:

 

[promisetbg]