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FAQs about Marine Scavenger Selection: Seastars
Related FAQs: Seastar Selection,
Marine Scavengers 1, Marine Scavengers
2, Marine Scavengers 3,
Sand Sifters, Sea Cucumbers, Shrimp
Gobies,
Sifter Gobies, Marine Algae
Eaters, Hermit
Crabs, & FAQs on Scavenger:
Rationale, Compatibility, Specimen
Selection, Clean Up "Crews", Worms
As Scavengers, Snail Scavengers,
Shrimp Scavengers, Hermit Scavengers,
Crab Scavengers, Cucumber Scavengers,
Sea Urchin Scavengers, Serpent
Star Scavengers, Fish/Groups as
Scavengers, Losses/Troubleshooting,
Related Articles: Marine Scavengers, Genus
Valenciennea Gobies, Hermit
Crabs, | 
Nardoas are good choices for large enough systems
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Sea Stars For Reef Cleaners? 7/9/08
I was on your website for
quite some time and could not find an answer to my question. My question
is, I would like to add some sea stars to my 46 gallon reef tank. I've
seen some sea stars that might be appropriate like serpent sea stars or
brittle sea stars (except the green ones).
<I would stick with the
serpents, less prone to being problematic.>
I have 40 lbs of live
rock in my tank and a sand bed of about 3-4 inches. I would greatly
appreciate some advice of what kind of sea stars and how many would be
good to add to my clean up crew up. I currently have a scarlet reef
hermit crab, a blue leg hermit, about a dozen Astrea snails, about 5
Nassarius snails and Cerith snails, a coral banded shrimp. I was also
wondering if sea stars would eat any snails or other critters (including
corals) in the sand or among the live rock, because I see that some of
them are carnivores so I was just wondering. Thank you for your advice
and time taken to help me out.
<I currently keep a Ophioderma
ensiferum in the same sized tank and it has done quite well, in fact it
attempted to spawn two nights ago. The genius Ophioderma are quite
adaptable to aquarium life and a good one to start with. However, as
part of a cleanup crew they don't do a whole lot, but are interesting
and relatively easy. I would just stick with one for the time being in a
46G tank. See here for more http://www.wetwebmedia.com/brittlestars.htm>
<Chris> Tamaria stria vs. Purple
Linckia 12/20/06
I've been searching for more information on
the purple Linckia starfish that have come in at the LFS. So far, it
seems there is a lot of confusion between the actual purple Linckia and
the Tamaria stria. <Similar in appearance.> I was wondering how to tell
them apart? One site mentioned that the Tamaria stria has orange feet
and possibly eats soft corals and that the purple Linckia has clear
feet. <Tough to tell the difference, not much study on these
animals.> Also, what is the tank size and age requirements for the
purple Linckia? <Not really appropriate for captivity.> Most sites
tend to say 75+ gal and 6 mon. + for the Tamaria stria. <Minimum,
however what they eat is still debated/mostly unstudied.> Right now I
have a 29 gal., up for 6 weeks, crushed coral sub, some live rock, and 1
damsel, with wet/dry, trickle under it with live rock, live sand, and
some algae (mixed of Chaetomorpha & some Caulerpa's). I plan on
replacing the damsel with a frogfish (Antennarius pictus or Antennarius
maculatus) and NO other fish. Would the starfish be ok with him? <Not
really, neither of these stars have a good survival rate in
captivity.> If not, I am also going to be setting up a 65 gal. that he
can go into. Much appreciated! Nicole
<Best to leave these stars
in the ocean, too much unknown about them and they have a dismal
survival rate. For more
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/seastars.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/seastars2.htm >
<Chris>
Starfish/Urchins in an Aggressive Fish Only Tank 11/23/05
Apologies if you have already answered this but I couldn't find it on
the FAQ section. I have a fish only tank with a Huma Trigger,
Snowflake Moray and Lionfish. I have been looking for something to
control algae but the trigger keeps biting chunks or any exposed pieces
from any snails that I put in there (irrespective of size). Can you keep
starfish or urchins in this type of tank? And if so, would anyone have
nay recommendations?
<The trigger will eat all inverts!! you better
scrub the aquarium by hand!! IanB> Micro stars/Detritus
Control 3/16/06
Hey crew, <Hey Eric>
Hope you
are having a wonderful day. <Not bad.>
I am having a little bit of
a detritus build up problem in my tank.
Some of the live rock I have
has small pockets in the rock they look like small craters, but detritus
seems to settle in these pockets and I have to eventually vacuum
them. Well after I vacuum most of these out all my coral and anemone
seem to open up a lot more and last for a few weeks (I guess they could
be eating this material but I really don't think so). <Correct.> I was
wondering if adding micro bristle stars would help keeps these areas
clean. <Will help some. The best control is what you
mention...vacuuming and during every water change.> If you have any
suggestions of other organisms that would work better please let me
know.
180 gallon
300 lbs live rock
1600 gallons an hours of
power head water flow.
4-5 inch sand bed.
Thanks, <You're
welcome. James (Salty Dog)>
Eric
Sand Sifting and Orange General Starfish??? Star
Problems, Predation 7/27/06
Hello and thanks for taking the time
to read and answer my question. <Sure> I have both a sand sifter and an
orange general starfish. <Protoreaster lincki?> I've had the sand sifter
for about a month and just got the orange general a couple of days ago.
Well here's the deal, I went into look at my tank this morning and
noticed that my orange general starfish was in the process of eating my
sand sifter. <Several species go by this common name, and for some this
is not an uncommon behavior.> I know it was too late for the sand star
because I could see half of it was already digested and the general was
working on the other half. Keep this in mind that earlier that night the
sand sifter was perfectly fine. I have FOWLR tank with a porcupine
puffer, niger trigger, & maroon clown. <I would guess at some point
either the puffer or trigger should have decided to snack on the star
anyways.> Water Levels are all ok. I was wondering if this is normal for
a general star to do. <Need a scientific name to be sure, but seems
likely.> I knew this star wasn’t reef safe and thought that it be ok in
my tank. Will it try and eat my fish? <Depends on the size of the fish,
but I would bet that the problem will be the other way around.>
Sorry if this is a stupid question, but my LFS is pretty reliable on the
info he gives me, at least I thought he was, and he said this star would
be ok in a fish only tank.
<Not a fish only tank if there is another
star in there, either way those sharp teeth the puffer and trigger have
are there for a purpose, and will most likely make short work of any
stars in the future.>
Just hoping to get a better understanding of
the situation.
Thank you for your time and effort,
James
<Anytime>
<Chris> Re: Sand Sifting and Orange
General Starfish??? Star Problems, Aggressive tank 7/30/06
Hello
again Chris and the Crew,
<Hello>
Thanks Again for answering my
question. <Sure> As far as the Orange General Star goes, I do believe
the scientific name is
Protoreaster lincki. <Definitely some
evidence that it is a potentially carnivorous species.> Sorry I didn't
have it before. <No problem.> The fish I have not messed with the star
fish so far, but the puffer likes to mess with my snails. This is my 1st
aggressive tank, so I was wondering if you have any other
recommendations a far as clean up goes for a Porcupine puffer, niger
trigger, and maroon clown. <The cleanup crew in mostly going to be you,
as most snails, crabs, and shrimp will be lunch for the niger and
puffer. May be able to use burrowing snails but even this is doubtful.>
Thanks Again,
James
<Chris>
- Seastar
Questions -
Hi crew,
Long time reader first time writer.
I
just want to make sure my last purchase is a smart one. <Ok.>
First
I'll start off with some tank facts.
Saltwater 55 Gallon FO
ammonia- 0 nitrite- 0 nitrate- 0 pH-8.3 Sal. - 1.023
don't test
anything else
carbon run 24x7. protein skim with a Versa-jet skimmer
(cheap I know, but actually has wonderful performance for me, about 4-8
oz of dark skimmate daily.)
3.5-4" crushed coral substrate
cheap
lighting (perfecto strip of I would guess two 15" fluorescents)
Inhabitants - a few damsels
clarkii clown
Pseudochromis
very
small valentini puffer.
I am looking into getting a star,
particularly the chocolate chip star.
I would like to get this star
to help clean my substrate and glass. <Not a sure thing.> Also I have
heard its very hardy. <Hardy in what sense? All Seastars could be lumped
into the category of 'not hardy' although some may tough it out longer
than others.>
Are my conditions good enough for this star to thrive?
<Hard to be certain - are many variables, health of organism on arrival,
appetite of that puffer, available food, etc.> There is plenty of algae
that I have to clean biweekly to weekly off the substrate and glass.
<Can't guarantee that this Seastar will eat this.> Will this be enough
for him along with the left overs from my fish feeding (frozen krill,
frozen brine shrimp, dry blood worms, flake, frozen silversides, frozen
clams)? <Well... I'm sure you know that these animals don't move very
fast, so it may not get the opportunity to get to all this food or clean
the glass as quickly as might be useful for you.>
Would you suggest a
different star (although I would like to stay with a hardy specimen)
<Again, really no such thing as a hardy Seastar in the pet-fish trade -
are all delicate and responsive [in a negative way] to water quality
issues. There are others, like the general star that are impractical to
keep that would rate higher on the hardiness scale than a chocolate chip
star.>
I would love to add some live rock too but I know my lighting
wont be sufficient for the invert. <Wouldn't be so concerned about this
- live rock with or without lighting will provide benefit to your tank.>
hitchhikers and coralline growth. So I think I will wait for better
lighting till I get the LR. <I wouldn't wait if I were you.>
Thanks,
APM
<Cheers, J -- > Sandsifter in 40gal?
Hi there
<Hello>
We have recently changed the substrate in our 40 gal 1 year
old system. It is about 1 - 1.5in deep sand bed covering the front half
of the tank (3 ft. long). I have been thinking of adding a sandsifting
star as our crabs tend to be a little lazy and prefer the LR at the
back. My question is, would a 3-4in star be too big for the tank and is
it likely to starve once it's cleaned the sand?
Thanks
Jo
<Is
right about the minimum size for one... Please read through the FAQs
here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/sndsftstrfaqs.htm Bob Fenner>
Re: Sandsifter in 40gal?
Thanks Bob
<Welcome>
I read the
FAQ about the stars and although I have one reserved in a shop, I guess
I better tell them I've changed my mind. Just one more thing, if the
star is out of question, what would you recommend to turn the sand?
<... Please see here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ put the term "sand sifters" in the
Google search tool........>
I love gobies but don't like the way some
of them take a mouthful of sand and chuck it all over the LR... Great
and a very useful site by the way! Thanks again, Jo
<Please use it.
Bob Fenner> Clean up Crew
I'm putting together my
clean up crew for my 46 gal. tank w/ 65 lbs. of live rock with lots of
Algae.
Would you recommend a combo of Turbo and Trochus or Turbos and
Astrea snails? How many of each for my size tank?
Thanks, Rob O.
>>
Well... you've asked a pointed, defined question... So... I'll
gladly respond in kind. I don't encourage the stated stocking density of
Trochus genus Snails, and I do favor the use (if being utilized) of
Turbo and Astrea genera gastropods over the use of Trochus... (though in
Europe... there are some collected/collectable Trochid family members
that are desirable...).
Bob Fenner
Thanks Bob for answering the
question of what kinds of snails. How many would you recommend for my
size tank?
<Oops, sorry for missing this part previously... IF I was
using snails, five or ten of
Astreas and Turbos... Some Blue Legged
Hermits... again five or ten... depends on the types, amounts of live
rock used, lighting... other algae eaters... am a bigger fan by far of
using fishes... like Ctenochaetus Tangs, Blennies...>
I also really
want to get some starfish. I was thinking (1)Blue Linckia,(1)orange
marble and (1)brittle starfish. Should I purchase these when I get my
clean up crew or should I wait until my tank is more established? How
many would you recommend for my size tank? Right know the tank is 6 wks.
old with lots of Algae mostly brown).
<I'd only consider the middle
species... and you can place it now... or wait
Bob Fenner>
Thanks
again, Rob O.
Hired help for cleaning
Hello Mr. Fenner,
Short questions today. I've read the articles on starfish, and I want to
put some in my 100G. reef tank. I'd like to put maybe 1 blue Linckia,
and some Fromias, but in your opinion, how many starfish would you put,
I now have 1 brown brittle star, 1 peppermint shrimp, 2 cleaner shrimp 4
red-legged hermits, 2 blue-legged hermits, and 2 big turbo snails along
with the fishies, and also what do you think is the most efficient
detritivorous cleaner for a reef tank. I know the Fromias are
detritivores, but also need supplementing with meaty foods, are they my
best bet, or would you recommend something else? ( strictly for
detritus, not concerned about algae). I do also clean the bottom, but I
just want something that I could say is a live-in maid, if you know what
I mean.
Greg N.
<Three, four small stars total is about the limit.
Marine scavengers are covered on the WWM site. Bob Fenner>
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