Stars?

[Master_Yoda]

I am new with saltwater tanks(although I have kept FW fish for > 10yrs) and I am seting up a 55G FOWLR (will be a reef eventualy after I get the $ for proper lighting) and was wondering how hard Stars("Sea Stars" "Starfish") are to keep, and how soon after the cycle can they be added? Esp the Australian Biscut Star(Pentagonaster duebeni) I have heard that some are not hard to keep. Any input will be helpful. And are there any good websites on stars so I can learn more about them(eating habits, etc)? Thanks.

[MonoSebaelover]

WELCOME TO AQUARIA CENTRAL!!!! You will find wealths of info here. A good guide line to stick with stars is any starfish that has a bumpy body (has any kind of points coming from their backs- a great example being the Crown of Thorns and Chocolate Chip Stars) are not reef safe. If they have a smooth body then they are generally considered reef safe. I would recommend sticking with the Linkia Stars and Fromia stars to be safe. Stars are quite hardy if well feed and kept in clean environment. I would wait 2-4 weeks after the cycle to add one, but that is just me. If you are going to add a Linkia or Fromia I would wait 6 months till you are sure water quality is stable along with salinity. Any kind of quick water change can and will kill them. BTW, I don't know anything about the biscuit star (the above is for stars in general) but check out www.wetwebmedia.com and look under Inverts. This shall help a little and others should have info. Anyway, hope this helps.

[mogurnda]

I have found serpent stars to be reef safe, hardy and entertaining. They also help to keep water quality up by scavenging for uneaten food and debris.

[BrianH]

As MonoSebaelover said, stars are very sensitive to water quality issues. I would wait a few weeks before adding serpents or bristle stars and a few months before linkia or fromia stars. For example I usually take at least 2 hrs. to acclimate a fromia or linkia using a drip line. Make sure the one you are looking at in the store has all of it's legs. Leg loss is usually a sign of trouble and I would stay away from that star. Especially since the linkias' go for $50 by me.

Brian

[liquafaction]

If you don't mind me asking, What part of Texas are you from?

[Master_Yoda]

I live in the DFW area, are you in Texas? Anywhere near DFW?

As for the stars, does anyone have any information specific to the "biscut star"(Pentagonaster duebeni)(I have sometimes seen it called a "vermillion star")? Thanks for the sites I read alot

[liquafaction]

Tyler area. probably about an 1.5 hours away

[Ray Pollett]

Pentagonaster duebeni Page 945 Vol 3 of Baensch Marine Atlas -

Keep only one per tank. Moderate to dim light. House in rocky aquarium - shaded sites in form of caves and crevices are required.
Food - encrusting organisms such as spongesz, bryozoans and sea squirts.

I would say from that a bad choice for a reef tank.

Ray