Safe Starfish?

[nina&noah]

I just learned the hard way that sand sifting starfish don't live in an aquarium. After reading the info on this forum I'm seeing there is a whole list of starfish that don't live in an aquarium. Are there any that do? I would like to have a starfish.

 

[subee950]

I have 3 sand sifting stars in my reef and a blue Linckia and a brittle never had a problem and I have had them all over a year. what happend to you?

 

[kg111]

I have had a chocolate chip starfish for about 2 years now and have had no problems with it. We just make sure to feed it as often as we can when it is on the glass. We mainly feed it the same seaweed we feed our other fish with. Occassionaly it will get some krill also. It has been growing well and almost doubled in size since we got it. Just make sure your water is good and not to have drastic salinity changes when doing water changes was the advice we got.

 

[nina&noah]

Originally Posted by subee950
http:///forum/post/2688050
I have 3 sand sifting stars in my reef and a blue Linckia and a brittle never had a problem and I have had them all over a year. what happend to you?
I had 2 for about a year. I recently noticed that their "arms" were disappearing. I posted on this board asking about the issue and I was told that there are not enough nutrients in our sand to sustain a sand sifting star long term. Therefore it slowly starts to Disintegrate.

 

[nina&noah]

Originally Posted by KG111
http:///forum/post/2688070
I have had a chocolate chip starfish for about 2 years now and have had no problems with it. We just make sure to feed it as often as we can when it is on the glass. We mainly feed it the same seaweed we feed our other fish with. Occassionaly it will get some krill also. It has been growing well and almost doubled in size since we got it. Just make sure your water is good and not to have drastic salinity changes when doing water changes was the advice we got.
How do you feed a starfish? Do you just stick food near its mouth?

 

[usirchchris]

I have a knobby star that I got off this site...IT'S REALLY COOL!! I don't do anything with it as far as spot feeding. I have had it about 6 months or so now, and no problems. I think as long as you have a good amount of LR for it to graze on, and an established tank, they are gtg

.

 

[kg111]

Originally Posted by nina&noah
http:///forum/post/2688294
How do you feed a starfish? Do you just stick food near its mouth?
Yes, I just slide the food under its leg toward its mouth and hold it there while the starfish slowly moves over it. The starfish will grab the seaweed and clump it into a ball and then it will eat that for about 5-10 hours or so before it will move on.

 

[texasmetal]

Acclimation is key.
Carnivorous stars are much easier to take care of but you can't keep them with any corals or other inverts.

 

[mr_x]

banded serpents are hardy, and eat meaty foods. mine takes the clump of fish right out of my fingers.
i also have a red bali star, which seems to be pretty hardy too. he eats coralline algae though.

 

[alix2.0]

Originally Posted by usirchchris
http:///forum/post/2688300
I have a knobby star that I got off this site...IT'S REALLY COOL!! I don't do anything with it as far as spot feeding. I have had it about 6 months or so now, and no problems. I think as long as you have a good amount of LR for it to graze on, and an established tank, they are gtg

.
do you have it in a reef?

 

[keri]

Originally Posted by nina&noah
http:///forum/post/2688294
How do you feed a starfish? Do you just stick food near its mouth?

Originally Posted by KG111
http:///forum/post/2688070
I have had a chocolate chip starfish for about 2 years now and have had no problems with it. We just make sure to feed it as often as we can when it is on the glass. We mainly feed it the same seaweed we feed our other fish with. Occassionaly it will get some krill also. It has been growing well and almost doubled in size since we got it. Just make sure your water is good and not to have drastic salinity changes when doing water changes was the advice we got.
This starfish is NOT reefsafe

 

[usirchchris]

Originally Posted by alix2.0
http:///forum/post/2690194
do you have it in a reef?
No, no reef tanks for me. Too much work, and all my fish pack a big bioload. The star is in a tank with two cowfish atm. I do have some polyps in the tank, but have never seen my star eat any...the urchins on the other hand

. I think I may have some xenia as well, not sure, some nice fella gave them to me, I was unaware what they were, and was trying to see if my cows would eat them. I would think the star reef safe...well mine anyhow.