Which starfish do I have ?

[budbrs]

I found a starfish on the beach ( Florida Gulf Coast ) . It is Dark brown on top with a brite orange belly. Very happy in tank but am not sure what species it is or what it really likes to eat, seams to like algae cause it spends lots of time stuck to glass. Can anyone help? :help:

 

[ophiura]

I would need a picture to be sure. Many in the area are not reef safe.
In general, I would not recommend doing this. But please NEVER release it back into the wild. It is yours for good now
A picture would be really helpful though.
Seastars are some of the more difficult animals to keep and need very good water parameters, especially specific gravity of 1.025-1.026.

 

[budbrs]

This is a pic of underside, and I was planning on keeping it.

 

[ophiura]

Do you have a pic of the top?
Possibly Luidia alternata
(wouldn't consider it in a reef tank...but hopefully would take to spot feeding with meaty foods such as pieces of squid, clam, etc)

 

[thud]

What if the thing had poisonous spines. It's a bad idea to pull just anything out of the ocean.

 

[budbrs]

Here is the top

 

[budbrs]

So does anyone know what it is ?

 

[aaron7405]

Originally Posted by Budbrs
So does anyone know what it is ?

is a sand...disfter or shifter I dont know the exact word
they like to hide on the sand by they and at night look for food, they like litle pices of fish or shrimp, turn them and put the food on the little legs you will see how they will eat it.
They are reef safe, but the will look for food in the sand, some times they borrows and stays they and will die because there is no food.
they are quiet healty for the tank because they are continus moving the sand.
I get 2 and threw them away because I thouht they where bad for my tank.
They cost like 14 dlls each in the stores.
Im not from US so forgive my english

 

[ophiura]

The picture is not quite clear enough - but it is a Luidia most likely. It is a relative, but definitely not the sand sifter star that is sold in the hobby. It may burrow into the sand.

 

[budbrs]

it has started burrowing in the gravel, what do i feed it ?

 

[ophiura]

Originally Posted by Budbrs
it has started burrowing in the gravel, what do i feed it ?

I would try to feed it anything meaty. Substantial though - not brine or something. Clam, squid, silversides, etc.

 

[budbrs]

anything meaty i put in the crab gets to it first. should i bury the meat?

 

[reefkprz]

Originally Posted by Budbrs
anything meaty i put in the crab gets to it first. should i bury the meat?
set the sea star on it.. or tuck it under the star. close to the middle would be best.