Starfish?

[suave]

Recently we vacationed in Aruba and found a dead starfish. We cleaned it out, brought it home, and let it dry out. Would it hurt our fish only tank if we put this starfish in for looks? Will it start to decay in the water?

 

[sistrmary]

I think it would probably start to decay. I mean, don't take it to the bank or anything, since I've never tried it, but I'm thinking in terms of jerky. If you set it in water, even though it's been dehydrated and dried out for a long time, it still soaks up the water. I'm not sure if it would harm the tank, i.e. an ammonia spike, but I'm pretty sure it would start looking like poo after a couple of days. I think the chance of it spiking the tank would keep me from adding one myself. Besides, no one knows what kind of chemicals it encountered. You could superglue it to the doors on your stand...like a doorknob though

 

[ophiura]

It is not a good idea to put it in the tank. There is a lot of material that will still decay and cause problems in the tank.

 

[suave]

Thanks for the advise. I will use the sf as a desk ornament or something.

 

[mikegronholz]

You could go to the FAR EXTREM and have it shrink wrapped !!! Then you could put it anywhere you want and it wouldn't do anything. In a tank it might float, so you'd have to glue it down, but at least it would be in your tank.
Or better yet, buy one of those overpriced food sealer things "As seen on TV" and try that !!!
Just some ideas ...

 

[suave]

Hey I like that idea. Thanks