new to saltwater.

[Lyvea]

For what it's worth, I've heard of more people having chocolate chip starfish die than live, but it might just be because they didn't research before they purchased--that is usually the case, after all.

Here's an article about them
and here are some frequently asked questions. Enjoy and get back to us if you still have questions.

[coraladdict]

Chocolate chip starfish's are not at all reef safe.....so unless u stick to the "no reef stuff at all" idea, then more power to you!!!......Sounds like you just need a helping hand with this along with as someone else has said, a new reef store...or at least read up on the animal before you buy.....Now the reason you need to acclimate the starfish's so well is because of the salinity change's between the water at the store and whats in your tank. assuming and hoping you bought a refractometer, you should keep your water at a steady 1.023 ishhhhh. It will go up and down a little as water evaporates and is refilled. When you just throw a starfish along with a lot of other inverts in the hobby in the changed salinity, it actually as sad as it is, causes the blood vessels in the SF to burst, thus killing the poor thing....so a bucket and a turkey baster slowly filling the bucket a squirt or two with your saltwater (like every 5 to 10 minutes) for about 30 minutes will make for one happy camper err starfish.as for the star fish you buy,.....choco's are OK for non reef stuff, Sand sifting are great for keeping your sand nice and clean(but you wont see them all to much) and serpent stars and pretty sweet too and are not a risk for anything ( very small possibility of it catching and killing a small and very dumb fish) but i have three and have never had it happen in the 5 years i have been in the hobby. Hope this explains a little bit and your not too discouraged from the stupid employee trying to make a quick buck because you will LOVE it ....ill keep checking back for you and will be glad to answer any questions and i am sure that everyone else will help!!! -BRIAN

[Lyvea]

Just for clarification, we did advise against sand sifting stars because they quickly starve to death in captivity, especially in small tanks like yours (yes, even the 55gal). They sift all the organisms from the sand until there's nothing left, and they do it so quickly there's no time for the little buggers to repopulate. So I still say it's better to go with a chocolate chip or a fromia.

[laurel]

Chocolate chip starfish's are nf safe.....ot at all reeso unless u stick to the "no reef stuff at all" idea, then more power to you!!!......Sounds like you just need a helping hand with this along with as someone else has said, a new reef store...or at least read up on the animal before you buy.....Now the reason you need to acclimate the starfish's so well is because of the salinity change's between the water at the store and whats in your tank. assuming and hoping you bought a refractometer, you should keep your water at a steady 1.023 ishhhhh. It will go up and down a little as water evaporates and is refilled. When you just throw a starfish along with a lot of other inverts in the hobby in the changed salinity, it actually as sad as it is, causes the blood vessels in the SF to burst, thus killing the poor thing....so a bucket and a turkey baster slowly filling the bucket a squirt or two with your saltwater (like every 5 to 10 minutes) for about 30 minutes will make for one happy camper err starfish.as for the star fish you buy,.....choco's are OK for non reef stuff, Sand sifting are great for keeping your sand nice and clean(but you wont see them all to much) and serpent stars and pretty sweet too and are not a risk for anything ( very small possibility of it catching and killing a small and very dumb fish) but i have three and have never had it happen in the 5 years i have been in the hobby. Hope this explains a little bit and your not too discouraged from the stupid employee trying to make a quick buck because you will LOVE it ....ill keep checking back for you and will be glad to answer any questions and i am sure that everyone else will help!!! -BRIAN

I don't have reef, just live rock. I will read up on them before i buy. Im not in real big hurry. My skimmer has to come before anymore fish.

[laurel]

coraladdict Are you checking on the other post to cuz i don't think i have seen you on it. I have been posting more on it then this one.

[coraladdict]

Hmmm, have never had any trouble with a sand sifting and i'm not sure if you meant my 55 gallon or not Butttttt i don't have a 55, i have a 185.....and the sand sifter is great for it ....and yeah i did not know there was another post........haha oh well, just trying to help

[laurel]

Thank you for the help. I can always uses more input. The other post is in Disease emergency. It has like 66 posts on it, might want to check it out. Actually bother are in there. I don't think i am going to get a star fish any time soon as much as i want to. There are to many issues yet. Like my tank is only 20 gal. I want to turn my 55 FW into SW not gona happen just yet. I need a skimmer and im so new to all this its alittle bit of a over load. At least my fish are still alive thats what matters and my tank is almost back to normal. I have good people giving me info.

[Wetplants]

Well, "turning it into SW" is easier than it sounds... Probably have to drill, buy a sump, skimmer, t5/pcs if not MHs...sand, rock, reactors... It's definitely a process.

[Lyvea]

Slow down Will. From what I understand, she doesn't want a reef tank yet; just a FOWLR, so let's go one step at a time!

Laurel, I'm curious...have you seen any little white starfish in your tank? Mine hitch-hiked their way into the tank when I bought my live rock, and from what I understand most tanks have a few. They're usually asterina starfish...small, my biggest one is a little smaller than a quarter, whitish/yellow with greenish/black spots all over it. I have a ton right now; their population grows and shrinks with available food sources in the water. At least if you had those, you could enjoy them until the tank is ready for a bigger one In fact, my local fish store guy will usually pick a couple off his glass and throw them in whatever I buy free of charge because they reproduce so readily.

[laurel]

Ya Will you don't want me to overload do you.

I haven't seen any little starfish but i will look closer. I hope i do. Some of my clients had never seen a starfish, it's to bad they died. They have really enjoyed my tank so far. So have I. In the morning im going to try to feed fernando my featherduster. I go an eye dropper. any tips i need to know.