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Livestock | Marine | Marine Inverts and Snails | Starfish
Found 18 products.
Keeping Starfish in Marine Aquariums
Starfish, or sea stars, are mesmerizing echinoderms that add fascinating behavior and visual appeal to marine tanks. With a variety of species available—from the vivid red Fromia to the striking Blue Linckia—starfish can be excellent additions to display tanks when their care needs are understood.
General Care Tips:
Starfish are sensitive to changes in water chemistry and should only be added to mature, well-established aquariums with stable water parameters. Ideal conditions include a temperature range of 72–81°F and a pH between 8.1–8.4. Most species also require pristine water quality, low to moderate flow, and plenty of live rock to graze on and explore.
Feeding:
Many reef-safe starfish are scavengers, feeding on biofilm, detritus, and microfauna in the rockwork. Others, particularly sand-sifting species, consume organic matter within the substrate. While some species require little to no supplemental feeding in a mature system, others benefit from occasional offerings of meaty foods such as chopped seafood, sinking pellets, or specialized invertebrate diets placed near their path.
Compatibility and Behavior:
Most starfish are peaceful and reef safe, but some species may feed on corals, clams, or other invertebrates and are best kept with caution. They typically move slowly across rock, glass, and sand in search of food and do not pose a threat to fish. However, care should be taken during acclimation and handling—starfish are extremely sensitive to changes in salinity and should be drip-acclimated slowly to prevent osmotic shock.
Popular Starfish Species:
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Fromia spp. (e.g., Fromia monilis, Fromia indica): Attractive and reef safe; ideal for mature tanks.
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Linckia laevigata (Blue Linckia): Beautiful but delicate; suited for experienced aquarists.
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Sand Sifting Starfish (Astropecten spp., Archaster typicus): Excellent for keeping substrate clean, but may deplete sandbed fauna over time.
- Chocolate Chip Starfish (Protoreaster nodosus): Hardy, but not reef safe due to predation on corals and other inverts.
Special Considerations:
Starfish are highly sensitive to air exposure, temperature fluctuations, and rough handling. Always keep them submerged during transfers and avoid touching their tube feet or central disc. Regular observation for signs of damage or decay (e.g., arm loss, white spots) is important, as injuries can rapidly worsen in poor conditions.
Summary:
Starfish bring beauty, movement, and a unique presence to saltwater aquariums. While many species are best suited for experienced hobbyists due to their sensitivity and specific diets, their peaceful nature and fascinating behavior make them rewarding additions to stable, well-maintained marine systems.
Biscuit StarfishOur price: £0.00Common Name: Biscuit StarfishLatin Name: Fromia elegansMax Size: 5–6 inchesTemperature: 72–81°FpH: 8.1–8.4Reef Safe: Yes
Blue Linckia StarfishOur price: £0.00Common Name: Blue Linckia StarfishLatin Name: Linckia laevigataMax Size: 8–10 inchesTemperature: 72–81°FpH: 8.1–8.4Reef Safe: Yes
Brittle StarfishOur price: £0.00Common Name: Brittle StarsLatin Name: Ophioderma spp.Max Size: 6–8 inches (arm span)Temperature: 72–81°FpH: 8.1–8.4Reef Safe: Yes
Chocolate Chip StarfishOur price: £0.00Common Name: Chocolate Chip StarfishLatin Name: Protoreaster nodosusMax Size: 8–10 inchesTemperature: 72–81°FpH: 8.1–8.4Reef Safe: No
Cushion StarfishOur price: £0.00Common Name: Cushion StarLatin Name: Culcita novaeguineaMax Size: 6–10 inchesTemperature: 72–81°FpH: 8.1–8.4Reef Safe: No
Goldtip StarfishOur price: £0.00Common Name: New Caledonia Knobby Sea Star, Goldtip StarfishLatin Name: Nardoa novaecaledoniaeMax Size: 6–8 inchesTemperature: 72–81°FpH: 8.1–8.4Reef Safe: Yes
Green Brittle StarfishOur price: £0.00Common Name: Giant Spiny Brittle StarLatin Name: Ophiarachna incrassataMax Size: 12 inches (arm span)Temperature: 72–81°FpH: 8.1–8.4Reef Safe: No
Knobbly Sea StarOur price: £0.00Common Name: Knobby Sea StarLatin Name: Nardoa tuberculataMax Size: 6–8 inchesTemperature: 72–81°FpH: 8.1–8.4Reef Safe: Yes
Minstral Serpent StarfishOur price: £0.00Common Name: Appleseed Brittle Star, Minstral Serpent StarfishLatin Name: Ophioderma appressumMax Size: 6–8 inches (arm span)Temperature: 72–81°FpH: 8.1–8.4Reef Safe: Yes
Mosaic StarfishOur price: £0.00Common Name: Icon Starfish, Mosaic StarfishLatin Name: Iconaster longimanusMax Size: 5–6 inchesTemperature: 72–81°FpH: 8.1–8.4Reef Safe: Yes
Necklace StarfishOur price: £0.00Common Name: Necklace StarfishLatin Name: Fromia monilisMax Size: 5–6 inchesTemperature: 72–81°FpH: 8.1–8.4Reef Safe: Yes
Pearl StarfishOur price: £0.00Common Name: Pearl StarfishLatin Name: Fromia cf. monilisMax Size: 5–6 inchesTemperature: 72–81°FpH: 8.1–8.4Reef Safe: Yes
Picasso StarfishOur price: £0.00Common Name: Multicolor Linckia Starfish, Picasso StarfishLatin Name: Linckia multiforaMax Size: 5–6 inchesTemperature: 72–81°FpH: 8.1–8.4Reef Safe: Yes
Red Knobbed StarfishOur price: £0.00Common Name: Red Knob Sea StarLatin Name: Protoreaster linckiiMax Size: 8–10 inchesTemperature: 72–81°FpH: 8.1–8.4Reef Safe: No
Red StarfishOur price: £0.00Common Name: Red StarfishLatin Name: Fromia indicaMax Size: 5–6 inchesTemperature: 72–81°FpH: 8.1–8.4Reef Safe: Yes
Ruby Brittle StarfishOur price: £0.00Common Name: Ruby Brittle StarLatin Name: Ophioderma rubicundumMax Size: 6–8 inches (arm span)Temperature: 72–81°FpH: 8.1–8.4Reef Safe: Yes
Sand Sifting StarfishOur price: £0.00Common Name: Sand StarfishLatin Name: Archaster typicusMax Size: 6–8 inchesTemperature: 72–81°FpH: 8.1–8.4Reef Safe: Yes
Tiger Serpent StarfishOur price: £0.00Common Name: Tiger Serpent StarfishLatin Name: Ophiolepis superbaMax Size: 6–8 inches (arm span)Temperature: 72–81°FpH: 8.1–8.4Reef Safe: Yes