i.d. please?

cmar

cmar

AC Members
May 18, 2007
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got a new hitcher today. it is pikish-purple with black dots, 5 main arms, with several smaller arms branching off those, and yet smaller ones off those. very active, crawling all over my rock. then seems to rest, curling up all his little arms or fingers. looks like a cross between a star and an octopuss. anyway, i figure he's a star of some sort... anyone know? (can't do a pic yet)
thanks!
 
o.k., after some research, i believe it's a basket star. said to be difficult to keep. anyone have any experience?
 
Well, nothing good man . I bought a sea lily once and it was one one of the worst purchases I've ever made. It needs plancton and other particulate matter in order to live . You can try target feeding it oyster eggs , baby mysis, or baby brine shrimp. It will also benefit if you can stir your sand bed from particulate matter and infaunal life .
Be very careful not to touch it they are very fragile and it probably won't do well in your tank.
hope I'm wrong
Max
 
I've got a tiny basket star in my tank, it was a hitchhiker on the LR and has been in there for about 6 months. Pretty little thing, its a purple-pink colour aswell. I don't skim at the moment so I guess its getting what it needs from the water column.
 
well, this is one of the coolest freebie that i'll probably ever get! it's about 2 to 3" across when all stretched out. i'd love to keep him, but not at the expense of his life! i'll call my lfs to find out how to care for him, and if it's too risky, i'll probably return it.any idea of what these things are worth? just curious for possible trade value!
 
They won't be able to do any better with it most likely. I'd really say that it would have it's best chance in a well established tank or sump. I wish you the best and if you can keep the tank very stable and feed it you might have a chance with it. I wasn't trying to discourage you too much they are about as difficult as a chilli or other non-photosynthetic coral or filter feeder.
 
thanks everyone. gonna have to research these more, not much info so far on the web....hopefully lfs will know something
 
by that, do you mean a cold water species? i spoke with the woman at my lfs, and she didn't know much, but said that she thought they were a cold water specie. however, it has lived for a month or so in a heated enviroment. i know this because my son works at the place where the rock came from, and he said that they hadn't gotten rock for some time. i still cannot find any real info on the net! sucks, 'cause this is one neat creature!
 
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