Looking to add a starfish eventually.

[Ericwm]

My tank has been up for over 3 months, it is a 29 gallon reef setup (or will get there eventually). I am hoping to add a starfish and was wondering if anyone had a good suggestion of what to get. I have read some eat corals and some need a developed tank. I can wait for my tank to develop more but I would like to start planning ahead for my new addition. Does anyone know of a cool reef safe star that would be at home in my 29 gallon?

 

[Audiew]

My tank has been up for over 3 months, it is a 29 gallon reef setup (or will get there eventually). I am hoping to add a starfish and was wondering if anyone had a good suggestion of what to get. I have read some eat corals and some need a developed tank. I can wait for my tank to develop more but I would like to start planning ahead for my new addition. Does anyone know of a cool reef safe star that would be at home in my 29 gallon?

I think I would suggest a sand sifting star. I'm not sure about any others though.

 

[Sniperhank]

Most reef safe starfish are in the sandbed and you will rarely see them if at all. I have a serpent start and tbh don't know if he's alive our dead.

 

[Madcrazyroyboy]

Serpent stars are reef safe. But like he said you never see them.

 

[Ericwm]

Has anyone had any luck with a Red Bali or a Linckia starfish? I saw they might be reef safe, if so is a 29 gallon big enough and how long before I could introduce them into my tank?

 

[Sniperhank]

The Linckia are supposed to be very hard to keep and dont live very long. All I know.

 

[Ericwm]

Thanks for that. I don't want to kill anything I just think stars are cool and my wife really wants one. Has anyone had any luck with the red Bali?

 

[Rosesrblu1]

I see my serpent star a lot in my reef and the sand sifters far less often. My serpent comes out to eat when I feed and has his legs out all the time.

 

[spoonman]

I dont think that a sand sifting star would do too good in that new of a tank.

 

[Ericwm]

I can wait if needed, how long does everyone recommend? Is 1 year long enough for the tank to support a star?

 

[jsmith]

I just bought a red brittle star fish from reefs2go for 10 bucks. Looks great and i see it all the time hiding under the rocks.

 

[Rosesrblu1]

Ditto on the reefs2go, good quality and cheap!

A year should be ok, as long as you don't overstock. What size tank, sorry if you already posted.

 

[Gregcoyote]

IMO, a serpent star might be okay, but as said, you will only see him if he is desperate for food, otherwise he will be hidden. Same with sand sifting stars. It takes either a well established aquarium, or some pretty difficult feeding to keep them healthy. All the really colorful stars tend to be almost impossible to keep for long term for most people.

 

[Ericwm]

Ditto on the reefs2go, good quality and cheap!

A year should be ok, as long as you don't overstock. What size tank, sorry if you already posted.

It is a 29 gallon.

 

[Rosesrblu1]

You maybe pushing it with any starfish, as they consume the microfarad in the sand bed. A 29 has a very small footprint. I have 2 small sand sifting stars in 180 and I am afraid they will starve. You might be able to do a small serpent or brittle. Not trying to be a Debbie downer, just a realist. Sorry.

 

[Ericwm]

You maybe pushing it with any starfish, as they consume the microfarad in the sand bed. A 29 has a very small footprint. I have 2 small sand sifting stars in 180 and I am afraid they will starve. You might be able to do a small serpent or brittle. Not trying to be a Debbie downer, just a realist. Sorry.

I appreciate the realist opinion, I don't want to kill anything. Plus my wife is the one who really wants a star so maybe I can use this as leverage for a second larger tank once I get the whole salt water thing down.

 

[Madcrazyroyboy]

You can also feed them scallops and clams I believe.

 

[22engine]

I have a sand sifting star in my 29 biocube. I have a deep sand bed though. Atleast four inches and deeper in other spots. But they are right 90% of the time he is never out. Then he will pop out of now where and be out for ten min then gone again. It's cool if you see it coming out cause it comes straight up and then looks like its hovering around.