Starfish

What could be a more archetypal symbol of the ocean than a starfish? So simple yet incredibly strange and exotic… Of course every saltwater aquarist wants one! Indeed quite a few sea star species are appropriate for aquaria--and some are even pretty easy to care for. Many are beautifully colored and a few others even keep the substrate stirred up and fresh looking. Best of all, starfish are just incredibly fun to observe. Their movements can at times seem eerily deliberate for a creature that lacks a brain. Some species in particular can move surprisingly fast. Their mobility, and notoriously tight grip, comes from hydraulic system. It is this complex water vascular system that powers their many tube feet (which also act as gills). Even more amazing is the stomach of higher starfish species, which is everted to swallow prey whole and slurp back up into their bodies. Starfish are frequently at the very top of beginning aquarists’ wish lists. But hold up: Many commonly traded types are (unfortunately) almost sure to perish in captivity. And, frustratingly, some of the hardiest and most widely available species (e.g. chocolate chip starfish) are extremely predatory and thus cannot be safely kept in a reef tank. Before any sea star is purchased for your aquarium, you should take whatever time is necessary to thoroughly research it. This could spare a sea star, its tankmates and/or yourself a whole lot grief. In this section, you will earn how these fascinating creatures move and eat, which species are appropriate (or not) for your system and how to best handle/care for them.