Starfish in Reef tanks?????

[afnaeguy1892]

What (in your opinion) is the best star fish to get for a reef tank? I have read that there is a species of brittle star that is very aggressive, so I want to make sure that I don't get that one. I was thinking about one sand-shifter (since I'm running a deep sand bed) and one serpant/brittle star. Can I do that in a 37 gallon tank?

 

[grabbitt]

You could have a sand-sifter in your tank because it wouldn't harm anything, however, in a tank of that size, it will eventually starve once it eats everything it can find in your substrate.

 

[devil dog]

Originally Posted by GRabbitt
You could have a sand-sifter in your tank because it wouldn't harm anything, however, in a tank of that size, it will eventually starve once it eats everything it can find in your substrate.
I had one starve in my 120 after about two months...

 

[frankthetank]

I have had a sand sifter star fish for over 9 months.
I have an orange linckia who has been thriving in my 46g for the last 2 months.
But they all get a bigger home come new years!

 

[mudplayerx]

Originally Posted by GRabbitt
You could have a sand-sifter in your tank because it wouldn't harm anything, however, in a tank of that size, it will eventually starve once it eats everything it can find in your substrate.
Sand sifting stars are not reef safe. They deplete your sandbed of beneficial microfauna and usually die of starvation.
Linckia starfish need big tanks with lots of established live rock or they will starve. Even then they tend to do poorly.
Green brittlestars are widely available, inexpensive, and relatively hardy. However many people have reported that theirs have become predatory. I personally have one that has never been a problem in 3 years, but I keep it well fed.
There is a species of brittlestar that is very well suited for a reef tank and isn't known for becoming predatory. I have forgotten the name but maybe the starfish nerd, ahem... I mean Ophiura will chime in and help us out.

 

[ophiura]

There is no single species of brittlestar that is recommended over others, to be honest. Basically just that the green is not (though I also have not had issues).
Linckia stars take up to 18 months to starve, so success is only measured after that time frame. I do not recommend a Linckia, Fromia or sand sifter for that size tank.

 

[happyhourh]

My Variabilis is still going strong and hasnt bothered anything in the tank. It roams the rocks picking up bits of food and often will perch in the shade of a leather and hang its arms out in the current.