starfish possibilties

[Thrawn]

Hey guys, I'm in the planning stages of a 90 gallon FOWLR and I was just curious about starfish. Is a 90 big enough to house a full grown chocolate chip starfish? And what other stars would you guys recommend? I want one I'll actually be able to see and enjoy since I've noticed most of them either live under the sand or just hide during the day.

 

[Peppie]

Thrawn,
Can I add to your post?
Are there any Starfish that can be kept in a barebottm tank?

 

[1guydude]

linkia's come in red, blue, and purple i believe! To my knowledge they dont require sand and are mostly on the glass eating the algae!

 

[akunochi]

Linkia starfish are notoriously hard to care for just as a warning and are very difficult to acclimate.

 

[Bosco83]

You will be fine with a Chocolate Chip Starfish it will probably never reach full size in an aquarium.

 

[akunochi]

chocolate chips will decimate your reef in case you didn't know...if you did carry on.

 

[Thrawn]

May I ask what makes Linkia starfish hard to care for? Is it feeding or are they just sensitive? I'm leaning towards a chocolate chip because I've heard they're pretty hardy.

 

[NC2WA]

any flucuation in pH and salinity will kill a linkia...they do not tolerate it well..that same statement can be true for other starfish, but linkias are the most sensitive..choc chip starfish as Seth said will destroy a reef tank...you will find yourself placing back knocked down corals day after day...

if you have sand, may I suggest a white sand sifting starfish as it is calm, does the job and fairly hardy..Ive had two large sifting starfish for 2 yrs..

 

[1guydude]

ive got a sand sifting star and a banded sea serpeant...both required 2 hr acclimation and constant parameters but other than that...they take care of em selves! Linkias are said to be harder species to care for long term...but i cant tell u from expierence as ive never owned one YET! I want to get a spotted linkia!

 

[Bosco83]

He said FOWLR so I don't think he is planning a reef tank.

 

[1guydude]

o well than u can get watever star u want! LOL
red choclate chips are really kool imo! Gf wanted a choclate chip but i said NOOOO simply cuz the reef thingy!

 

[Thrawn]

Thanks for the info. Reef won't be a problem in this tank, only a FOWLR. Linkias are pretty cool, I'll look more into them but I'll probably end up getting the chocolate chip, my gf is also really pushing for one.

 

[NC2WA]

Well, why didn't u say that your gf wanna one?
This is a no brainer as u gotta keep her happy

:-D :-D

 

[Thrawn]

I figured I should check to make sure I could keep one before I said yes. It would have been hell I got her hopes up and then told her she can't have one.

 

[NC2WA]

no problem.

FOWLR=Yes to Choc. Chip starfish.

 

[Thrawn]

Awesome! Thanks man. And you mentioned sand sifting starfish, would I be able to add one of them as well or would that cause issues with the choco? And you do you ever even see them?

 

[NC2WA]

I got mine from BRA..normally are stocked

 

[Bosco83]

I don't really see my sand sifting star that much. They are also supposed to be hard to keep alive but I don't seem to have any issues I have had it for three years.

Brian