Chocolate Chip Star Fish Diet

[CrashingWaves]

By the way (sorry to be hi-jacking your thread joshua) are all star fish predatory? I want to get a colourful one but want it to be reef safe?

It's completely fine, don't worry about it. I really don't know much about saltwater tanks so it's just kind of educational to read everybody elses posts .

God Bless,
Joshua

 

[chrissaysyes]

Linckia make pretty great reef stars, as long as nothing in there has a taste for star fish. I've had mine for about a week and it's thus far one of my favorite inhabitants ever.

 

[STD]

Linckia make pretty great reef stars, as long as nothing in there has a taste for star fish. I've had mine for about a week and it's thus far one of my favorite inhabitants ever.

Problem with Linckia is they have a very poor survival record

I would recommend Serpent & Brittle stars - reef safe and very hardy - great addition to the clean up crew

 

[n3ont3tra]

Watch out for green ones. They've been known to catch and eat fish. Better safe than sorry.

 

[STD]

Watch out for green ones. They've been known to catch and eat fish. Better safe than sorry.

Yeah I've heard this - I have two green ones - had em for years and never lost a fish to them

I also have an orange serpent, a banded serpent and a black brittle - they are all great

 

[chrissaysyes]

Linckia's poor survival is usually due to bad shipping, not care. If you can get a hold of one that doesnt have a rocky past then you're golden.

 

[1entra]

Thats ok then as I'm thinking about getting either a Fromia or a Linckia IM assuming the Fromia are the more hardier of the two?

 

[n3ont3tra]

Linckia's poor survival is usually due to bad shipping, not care. If you can get a hold of one that doesnt have a rocky past then you're golden.

How do you know?

 

[STD]

Linckia's poor survival is usually due to bad shipping, not care. If you can get a hold of one that doesnt have a rocky past then you're golden.

not sure that I agree - main problem IMO is them getting enough food

 

[chrissaysyes]

55lbs of rock for grazing is adequate from my readings.

 

[Lynden]

According to Bob Fenner, Linckia are damaged in collection/shipping, but are very difficult to keep as well. They are hyperefficient and can clear even what may seem a large patch of rock of food in weeks. They take months to starve to death, then sputter to a stop, and the creature's death is dubbed as "for no reason". 55 pounds of rock is nothing resembling 'enough' for a larger specimen, but it could be for a tiny specimen of this genus or Fromia.

 

[chrissaysyes]

Since they can grow around 14-16" from tip to tip, Im assuming by small specimen you mean 3-4"?

 

[Lynden]

Yep. I would increase feeding if I were you, to get some heavy bacterial growth. Having hair algae can help as well because it fosters an enormous growth of 'pods.

 

[chrissaysyes]

 

[1entra]

Thanks for the info guys! I dont suppose there are any types of fromia or linckia that should be avoided doe to whatever reason? I only want a small colourful 3-4" one?