starfish

[wavemaster]

How long do starfish usually live in the aquarium? I have had a chocolate star live in my biocube 29 for 8 months before it died. Could my blood shrimp have harmed it? Anybody have any success keeping starfish in 29 gallon tank?

 

[Amba]

Starfish are expert only, and require an extremely stable system with excellent water parameters. I highly doubt your blood shrimp harmed it. Starfish can live for years in a pristine system, but will die in minutes in anything less.

 

[Bifferwine]

Did it have enough food? What were your nitrates at?

 

[wavemaster]

If it wasn't the blood shrimp, It must have been a food issue. No water quality issues. I was told the starfish would take care of itself for food. Been feeding brine shrimp to the aquarium.

 

[Amba]

Brine shrimp has nearly zero nutrients, you really should use a more nutritious food, such as mysis. Also when you say no water quality issues, what are your nitrates at? Even small amounts can be fatal to starfish, especially in a tank of your size.

 

[d2mini]

They can get really big so that are definitely not recommended for a nano, which means its possible he wasn't getting enough food.
They are more sensitive to water quality and they are not considered reef safe. Is your tank FOWLR?

I would look into a serpent or brittle star for your nano. They are easier to keep and good scavengers. A welcome addition to any reef tank.

 

[Bifferwine]

+1 Dennis. If you weren't feeding it, I doubt it was getting enough food in a small tank.

 

[wavemaster]

They can get really big so that are definitely not recommended for a nano, which means its possible he wasn't getting enough food.
They are more sensitive to water quality and they are not considered reef safe. Is your tank FOWLR?

I would look into a serpent or brittle star for your nano. They are easier to keep and good scavengers. A welcome addition to any reef tank.

I do have a reef with 2 black and white clowns, a blue/green Chromis, and a blood shrimp. When I bought the starfish, I was told it was reef safe. It was a chocolate starfish, not the chocolate chip starfish. Never noticed any damage to my corals over the 8 months I had it. It slowly died a few weeks ago and all other livestock in tank is doing great. How do you feed a starfish? I mainly use Hikari brine shrimp but sometimes will use mysis.
Thanks

 

[d2mini]

Ah, i am thinking chocolate chip. Not sure what a chocolate starfish is. Other than slang for something completely different. ;)