A passion for stars!

Mickadee · 11-20-2001, 10:39 PM

there has always been something about stars that has interested me..
once people have found out that I have saltwater tanks there first Q is do have any starfish.
within a couple of days they have gone to the LFS and bought a new addition to my tank (( dont you just love the way some people do these things))
anyway I know how delecate stars are and the people that are buying them dont but they think I would like them and bring em to me.
The LFS has a no return policy and no warranty (which I can understand with the nature of saltwater animals)
and of course my freinds dont have tanks..
long story short is I know have stars of all shapes and sizes and doing my best at keeping them alive and so far so good .
there are
2 chocolate chip stars
1 pin cushion star (( mothers gift of the week right after I asked about it on here))
1 red linkia
1 green brittle star

and a new addition as of today is a black star with gold high lights looks like a brittle star but have never seen one like it anywhere..
does anybody know where I could get some info on this paticular species of starfish??

sorry so long but thought I would give a little background on whyI have so many stars and ask that ione question..

thanks Mike

Doug1 · 11-20-2001, 10:48 PM

Mike Stars are really fascinating creatures eh
I like the brittle or serpents best, you new one will prolly do as well as the rest of the Ophilliads. Scavenge a lot but target feed them every few days. BTW CC stars are coral eaters

hayday · 11-20-2001, 10:54 PM

so here's a related question: can you have too many starfish in your tank?

currently, i only have one brittle green starfish, but i've seen several "scavenger" or "clean up crew" packages that include multipe starfish. i'm in need of a clean up crew. suggestions?

also, what are the ones to look for and the one to avoid, other than chocolate chips. and apparently, burrowing stars are bad if you've got a sand bed.

-hayday

Mickadee · 11-20-2001, 11:16 PM

the CC stars are in a 20 gal with the pin cushion star a wrasse and a saddle back clown I do know from experience that they will eat each other if there isnt enough food for them to eat the look for other places for it..( big mistake on my part )
out of all the stars I think the new ones is my favorite one of all because of his coloring and temperment that he has the green brittle stays in hiding till the lights go out this new one is out all day and as they lights were going down he was finding a hiding place..
I am looking for a red brittle star but havent had any luck so far and BTW the stars are not in the (hopefuuly when stocked ) reef tank..

Mike

Alice · 11-21-2001, 10:02 AM

Sounds like you're going for the complete set Mike

They are great fun to watch, feeding time is always interesting. I have serpent stars in each tank and the kids (and myself!) never get tired of watching them.

Wrasse Man · 11-21-2001, 10:54 AM

Stars are my favs next to wrasses. I keep trying to decide what to do with a 40 breeder I have, SPS, or SOWLR (Stars OWLR). Right now I have a Grey Serpant, Black Brittle and Yellow Brittle.

Forgot about the baby basket star that lives on one of my gorgs.

Hayday: I have heard that the green serpants can cause problems if they are not target fed once in a while. I think it was Doug who had one going after his fish.

Mickadee · 11-21-2001, 12:45 PM

I was going to stop a the 2 cc stars and the green brittle but freinds and family have gotten the rest of them for me they are really kewl to watch and to feed. I have damsels in with the 2 serpent stars and je green has been in there from the beginingI have not seen him go after the fish but he does like to chase the flake food in the water at feeding time. I target feed for a while but for about the last month or so I havent he comes out a little more at feeding time rather than staying hide all the time and cathes a lot of flake food. his legs act like a conveyor belt moving the food to his mouth.

does any body have a good link on different types of stars???

thanks
Mike

kermit the krab · 11-21-2001, 01:14 PM

I dig stars as well, but I stayed away from brittles and serpents because I've heard of their aggressiveness. These are my three stars that I really like. I'd like to get a purple linkia someday. Can you have too many starfish though?

Mickadee · 11-21-2001, 01:43 PM

I assume that you can get to the point where you have to many stars in a tank that they compete for food. and room for each of the stars to grow and be happy.I would say that just like swimming fish you have to give room for each individual to have its own area of the tank to feel safe in.

the new black brittle star has chose a home under a plate coral that is in the tank with him the green brittle stays in the rock work.
the pin cushion star that is in a 20 gal now will have to go to a bigger tank due to his size he has no legs just points he looks like a big rock that moves he is about 6 to 7 inches in diameter.
he is the fuinniest looking star that I have ever seen and the hardiest to care for unlike the other stars in the tank he is nocturnal and doesnt like stuff to touch him so you have to lay the food on the bed of the tank in his path and hope nobody comes to steal it before he gets to it...

the rest can if need be target feed

Mike