kydizzle41
Member
hi i would like to get a reef safe starfish for my 60 gal that looks good and is easy to care for i wanted a blue linkia but heard they were really hard to take care of. are there any other linkias i could do? thank you
reef safe starfish
- Thread starter kydizzle41
- Start date
crabbychris
Member
I only trust serpent stars...I have seen brittle stars kill fish especially the green ones.
ophiura
Active Member
Hi,
I'll answer here though I think I have a PM from you also
We need to know more about your tank:
Age
SPECIFIC water parameters
Inhabitants
Amount of Live rock
These are critical places to start. Seastars are some of the most delicate animals in our tanks, and to be honest your tank is very small for a reef safe seastar (even the small species). Most will not take to spot feeding and will die within 12 to 18 months of starvation.
Brittlestars are more easy to keep - but as noted the green is a known predator.
Blue Linckia are some of the most delicate and would not be suitable for your tank size IMO. It is possible another Linckia might be OK depending on the amount of LR but all would be marginal.
I'll answer here though I think I have a PM from you also
We need to know more about your tank:
Age
SPECIFIC water parameters
Inhabitants
Amount of Live rock
These are critical places to start. Seastars are some of the most delicate animals in our tanks, and to be honest your tank is very small for a reef safe seastar (even the small species). Most will not take to spot feeding and will die within 12 to 18 months of starvation.
Brittlestars are more easy to keep - but as noted the green is a known predator.
Blue Linckia are some of the most delicate and would not be suitable for your tank size IMO. It is possible another Linckia might be OK depending on the amount of LR but all would be marginal.
jtrzerocool
Active Member
Originally Posted by ZShain012
http:///forum/post/2879798
I have a brittle in my 8g but that's because it came inside in my lr. I can't find it now but anyways I think you should go with one of these. Also a chocolate chip might be good.
chocolate chip stars are not concidered "Reef Safe"...
That being said...we keed to know a little more about your tank to give you a few good choices...
http:///forum/post/2879798
I have a brittle in my 8g but that's because it came inside in my lr. I can't find it now but anyways I think you should go with one of these. Also a chocolate chip might be good.
chocolate chip stars are not concidered "Reef Safe"...
That being said...we keed to know a little more about your tank to give you a few good choices...
crabbychris
Member
just get a serpent star....serpent stars eat dang near anything and are easy to keep as long as your parameters are good. there is always a chance brittles will eat your fish (even if they are reef safe). i would assume you are capable of figuring out acceptable water parameters. chocolate chips are not reef safe.
ooh and if you have lionfish, triggers and puffers dont get a star. i just looked at your profile.
ooh and if you have lionfish, triggers and puffers dont get a star. i just looked at your profile.
kydizzle41
Member
my tank is a 60 gal it has been setup for about 5-6 months and all the params are good
doggiepuffer
Member
I have a "black" brittle star in my 30g along with a dwarf (Zebra) Lionfish, the everything gets along fine. The green brittle stars are also know as "Green Deaths" but are recommanded to place in a wetdry filter, not sure why thought if you have a comparment as a refiguim.
Generally speaking, chocolate chip stars will eat anything that they can catch, other inverts, fish, and corals.
Generally speaking, chocolate chip stars will eat anything that they can catch, other inverts, fish, and corals.
jtrzerocool
Active Member
Originally Posted by kydizzle41
http:///forum/post/2879950
my tank is a 60 gal it has been setup for about 5-6 months and all the params are good
i would say that a brittle starfish or a setpent starfish should be fine in the tank. some say that black brittles are fish eaters but i have had mine for 2 years and have never had it take down a fish. make sure you keep it well fed with mysis or silversides and you should never have a problem with it.
http:///forum/post/2879950
my tank is a 60 gal it has been setup for about 5-6 months and all the params are good
i would say that a brittle starfish or a setpent starfish should be fine in the tank. some say that black brittles are fish eaters but i have had mine for 2 years and have never had it take down a fish. make sure you keep it well fed with mysis or silversides and you should never have a problem with it.
kydizzle41
Member
thanks
ophiura
Active Member
Originally Posted by kydizzle41
http:///forum/post/2879950
my tank is a 60 gal it has been setup for about 5-6 months and all the params are good
What is "perfect" for fish can be fatal for these stars. I would not feel comfortable recommending any without knowing specifics.
http:///forum/post/2879950
my tank is a 60 gal it has been setup for about 5-6 months and all the params are good
What is "perfect" for fish can be fatal for these stars. I would not feel comfortable recommending any without knowing specifics.
kydizzle41
Member
alright let me test and ill get back to you tomorrow
doggiepuffer
Member
Good luck with your starfish. I know my brittle that i have seems very laid back, just wish i seen him out more often lol
mantisman51
Active Member
I have had a serpent star for about 4 months in my 125g reef tank and it is growing and very healthy. I bought 2 more 4 weeks ago and they are doing well, also. I read up on them before I bought them and everything I read said they have to have good water conditions. I have my sg @ 1.024, temp at 78F
and use ro/di water. I change 15 gallons every 2 weeks and use Instant Ocean salt. That's all I have concerned myself with and everything seems to be working. I just thought I'd share what my experience is, so far. Hope it helps. BTW, serpents are really cool. Throw food in the tank and before it even hits the floor, they are crawling out of the rock and searching. They are one of the coolest additions I have ever had.
and use ro/di water. I change 15 gallons every 2 weeks and use Instant Ocean salt. That's all I have concerned myself with and everything seems to be working. I just thought I'd share what my experience is, so far. Hope it helps. BTW, serpents are really cool. Throw food in the tank and before it even hits the floor, they are crawling out of the rock and searching. They are one of the coolest additions I have ever had.