why is a red general star NOT reef safe?
- Thread starter danrw84
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pa reef pig
Guest
They are of the Protoreaster family and are omnivores. As well with the Chocolate Chip star, which is a cousin of this starfish, they can sometimes be found eating soft and hard coral (they dont discriminate) and will eat clams. Keep him well fed and whatch him closely
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pa reef pig
Guest
Do you mean the Linkia stars?
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pa reef pig
Guest
True skilos1, The knobby starfish usually fall in the genus of Protoreaster and are not a good bet with the reef tank.
Linkia starfish are ok (so I hear) but do have the ability to release toxins as a defense mechanism. May cause serious problems for the tank if that would happen.
Linkia starfish are ok (so I hear) but do have the ability to release toxins as a defense mechanism. May cause serious problems for the tank if that would happen.
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pa reef pig
Guest
I think the most beneficial starfish are the brittle/serpent stars. I have three in my tank. They are excellent scavengers.
ophiura
Active Member
Yup, the only one's that are really beneficial in a sense are the brittlestars (same as serpent stars). These will scavenge, but should, IMO, be spot fed as well. However, the green brittle is a known predator as well. The knobby stars, including the red African, general and chocolate chip will also eat large dead things, like fish, in addition to a wide range of other living things.
The purple Linkcia is not, it is (in most instances) Tamaria stria and reports have come in about it eating a variety of soft corals including mushrooms. This is a danger. We know very little about the diets of many of these sea stars. All Linckia and Fromia and relatives are very delicate, requiring many hours of acclimation. It is best to keep them one to a tank, and the best success is in tanks of 100+ g with at least that much LR, and no other similar stars.
BTW, I have never seen a 'general' star that red. Strange. Where did you get it from?
The purple Linkcia is not, it is (in most instances) Tamaria stria and reports have come in about it eating a variety of soft corals including mushrooms. This is a danger. We know very little about the diets of many of these sea stars. All Linckia and Fromia and relatives are very delicate, requiring many hours of acclimation. It is best to keep them one to a tank, and the best success is in tanks of 100+ g with at least that much LR, and no other similar stars.
BTW, I have never seen a 'general' star that red. Strange. Where did you get it from?
dave flood
Member
I have a choc. chip no problems yet. But I here blue star is the only safe one