We loved them since children when we would either find them on the beach or we would pull them up on our fjshing lines, but, what are these beautiful creatures and should you have them in your tank?
Classy Creatures
Sea stars belong to the Phylum Echinodermata which means 'spiny skin'. There are thousands of animals belonging to this group. There are five major classes:
Classy Features
If you are an Echinoderm, you probably share the following features:
The most likely creatures that we will come into contact with at our marine LFS is a sea star, Asteroidea sp.. Just a few quick notes.
Asteroidea
OK...we grew up calling them Starfish but they are not fish. They are Sea Stars. Asteroidea are probably the most common Echinoderms that you will see for sale. Asteroidea that you find will most likely:
-have five arms
-use tube feet to move around your tank while the arms stay straight
-be scavengers and move about looking for food; some can find food in your tank, even if buried, by a 'sense of smell'
-eat corals and are not 'reef-safe'
-be able to evert their stomach to eat
Photos of the Indian Sea Star Fromia indica
Be A Conscientious Marine Aquarist
In general, Sea Stars are scavengers/predators. Some can grow quite large. Unless you have a very large marine tank, these animals don't belong in our marine systems. As always, there are anecdotal stories of success. In the least, you should be an 'expert' to try and keep them alive and have a tank of 100 gallons or more. DO NOT try and keep them in a nano tank. There is simply NOT ENOUGH room and food diversity to keep them going and they will SLOWLY STARVE. Stars, when they die, disintegrate rapidly and will nuke your tank.
Hope this helps.
SH
Classy Creatures
Sea stars belong to the Phylum Echinodermata which means 'spiny skin'. There are thousands of animals belonging to this group. There are five major classes:
- Asteroids
- Ophiuroids
- Crinoids
- Echinoids
- Holothuroids
Classy Features
If you are an Echinoderm, you probably share the following features:
- radial symmetry: their body parts are arranged about a central axis
- 5-fold or penta-radial symmetry: their body parts are arranged in 5's or multiples of 5's
- a water-vascular system: enables them to move, climb and pry open tough mollusks. The system consistes of tubes, channels, bladders, suckers, etc
- regenerative powers...they can regrow lost body parts
- a calcite skeleton covered by epidermis
The most likely creatures that we will come into contact with at our marine LFS is a sea star, Asteroidea sp.. Just a few quick notes.
Asteroidea
OK...we grew up calling them Starfish but they are not fish. They are Sea Stars. Asteroidea are probably the most common Echinoderms that you will see for sale. Asteroidea that you find will most likely:
-have five arms
-use tube feet to move around your tank while the arms stay straight
-be scavengers and move about looking for food; some can find food in your tank, even if buried, by a 'sense of smell'
-eat corals and are not 'reef-safe'
-be able to evert their stomach to eat
Photos of the Indian Sea Star Fromia indica
Be A Conscientious Marine Aquarist
In general, Sea Stars are scavengers/predators. Some can grow quite large. Unless you have a very large marine tank, these animals don't belong in our marine systems. As always, there are anecdotal stories of success. In the least, you should be an 'expert' to try and keep them alive and have a tank of 100 gallons or more. DO NOT try and keep them in a nano tank. There is simply NOT ENOUGH room and food diversity to keep them going and they will SLOWLY STARVE. Stars, when they die, disintegrate rapidly and will nuke your tank.
Hope this helps.
SH