Reef safe starfish

[TNTCanada]

Does anyone know of a starfish that can be kept in a reef tank"Reef safe" I was told there is only one type a tiny red/orange one. Any comments or info. :rolleyes:

[Aquattro]

I think linkia's are safe, but they tend to starve to death after a while.

[UnderWorldAquatics]

I believe your refering to a red fromia starfish, blue linkias do good for me, purple linkias are good but almost impossible to get, orange linkias, red and orange tile stars have been reef safe, I have never had a problem with sand sifting stars and keep them in all my reefs, but they are predators and technicaly could eat something, I have also never had problems keeping any kind of brittle star in a reef, I have kept feather stars only with live rock so I dont know if they are reef safe....hope that helps

[EmilyB]

I keep several species of fromia in my reef. :biggrin:

[TNTCanada]

Thanks guys for the info
Cheers :mrgreen:

[Gujustud]

So linkias are okay? I was thinking about picking up a blue one for my tank. The color is amazing!

[JoelF]

I have a very large Brittle and a Sand Sifter in my 90 and they are great. No probs with any of the corals and the sifter keeps the sand... well....sifted.

[Bartman]

Just don't get a green brittle star. They are predators and will even eat a fish if they can catch it. On the other hand, if something dies in your tank anf you can't see it a GBS will happily clean it up.

[Quinn]

There is a lot of anecdotal evidence on RC, RDO, etc. indicating that all the brittlestars are opportunistic hunters. I wouldn't trust them in a tank with any small or bottom-dwelling fish.

[Gujustud]

Well I went by Fin-omenal today, and picked up a Blue Seastar (same thing as a linkia?) today. The color as absolutely amazing! Totally stands out!

Fast bugger too, I put him on some rock, and starting moving around. Its awesome how they just "float" across the rock. Now I just gotta get me hands on a digital camera...

[sumpfinfishe]

What and where is "Fin-omenal" :question:

[Gujustud]

What and where is "Fin-omenal" :question:

http://www.fin-omenalfish.com

[Gujustud]

So my starfish was visable for the first day, and now he's been hiding under some rocks for the last few days. Is it normal of them to be in hiding in the same place for so long?

[EmilyB]

Well, yah, if you got a linckia. In a week when it doesn't move, fish it out and start looking for the fromias...did I mention the fromias :rolleyes:

[Delphinus]

So linkias are okay? I was thinking about picking up a blue one for my tank. The color is amazing!

Here's some good info for you..
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/may2002/toonen.htm

My $0.02 ..... Seems they're hit and miss. Nobody really knows what specific "goo" (algae slime, bacteria, whatever..) they're eating. If your tank has enough of this "goo" then they will do OK. If your tank doesn't have enough "goo" then the risk is that it will starve and eventually die.

[Gujustud]

Good read.

Well the starfish finally came out this morning. He was up doing some glass climbing. I went home at lunch, and he was back in the same area under the rocks. Maybe he likes it there because its dark.

I've got a bunch of goo I think in my tank. Its been running for almost 2 months now, only had a fish in there for about 2-3 weeks. A few inverts and stuff, but there is creepy crawly's all over the tank, so hopefully he'll do fine in there.

[Gujustud]

http://www.ditchmond.com/gallery/albums/userpics/starfish02.jpg

I grab a pic of the starfish with my camcorder as he popped his head out again. Why can't he stay out longer?

[Pisces]

Grrrr.....my LFS told me that green brittles are ok as long as you get the 'hairy' ones. :mad:

I guess it just re-inforces 'do your homework first'!

Good thing it's a fish only tank for now.....argh!

But, he is pretty neat. I call him 'peanut'. :smile:

[EmilyB]

I grab a pic of the starfish with my camcorder as he popped his head out again. Why can't he stay out longer?

Nice star....he looks fat :mrgreen:

[Gujustud]

Nice star....he looks fat :mrgreen:

http://www.ditchmond.com/gallery/albums/userpics/normal_starfish03.jpg

Yeah he does look kinda fat, specially in the pics. I'm hoping thats good?

[EmilyB]

I would think so.... :confused: :mrgreen: