starfish question

[g13]

I'm looking for an ultimate cleaner for my tank. I have some cleaners in my aquarium that eat detritus (hope I spelled that right), but they themselves leave their little bombs. Do starfish also? Or do they just let out their waste in gas or liquid form?
I hope this don't sound dumb but I wonder if their is such a cleaner invertebrate out there that is reef safe. If so, is it reef safe?

 

[h2oengr]

Ya know, I asked this exact question about a month ago. I love starfish and they are the reason that I went reef from FO. I hope someone finally answers your question. Sorry I can't help! :notsure:
I will tell you that I didn't have any luck with a blue linkia. I've been researching them and it looks like a burgundy or an orange star may be "easier" to keep.

 

[krishj39]

For starfish, you should go with one in the brittle family. Do some research before you get a green or yellow brittle starfish as some have had them eat fish. My vote is for serpent stars (they are in the brittle family). Linckia isn't a good choice for many reasons. They are very sensitive and often are already doomed to die before they get into your tank because of poor acclimation. Also, they do not eat detrius. Serpent stars will eat just about everything and are much hardier. There is no invert I know of that consumes food that isn't suspended in the water column and doesn't still leave it's own mess afterwards. You really can't avoid that. For the record though, I have never seen serpent starfish poop, but that's probably because they spend most of their time in the rocks where I can't see them. Other good choices are urchins (I have a pincushion and a black-spine). They seem to eat just about everything and leave very small grains for poop (like the size of a poppy seed). Hermit crabs are really a good choice too. They don't leave much behind.