jpod Posted September 22, 2007 Share Posted September 22, 2007 Hey guys. I just bought a red starfish yesterday. I dripped him for two hours before placing him in the tank. He hasn't moved from his spot since last night. Should I be worried? This is what he looks like: Quote Link to comment
clifford513 Posted September 22, 2007 Share Posted September 22, 2007 Looks like a fromia sp. Not very much success with these guys in nano tanks. At least not long term success. Mine survived for around 7 months in a 33g. Quote Link to comment
basser1 Posted September 22, 2007 Share Posted September 22, 2007 I would watch it for a couple of days. I recently bought a small red fromia star and he didn't move hardly at all for a day or so. But after that, he's cruising all over the place! Quote Link to comment
supahtim Posted September 22, 2007 Share Posted September 22, 2007 your best solution would be to return that starfish ASAP. your tank is way too young and small for one. if you really want one, you'd probably need upwards of 100g full of liverock and have it run for at least a year so it is full of microfauna for the starfish to graze on. Tim Quote Link to comment
greeneyes Posted September 22, 2007 Share Posted September 22, 2007 (edited) Watch to see if he moves around at night. Good luck. Edited September 22, 2007 by greeneyes Quote Link to comment
jpod Posted September 22, 2007 Author Share Posted September 22, 2007 Thanks for your help guys! The people at my LFS has been really helpful to me. They know how long I've had my tank and they always advice me on the livestock that I can and can't get. I'll trust them and wait till tomorrow to see if he's still immobile. Thanks again!! Quote Link to comment
icenine Posted September 22, 2007 Share Posted September 22, 2007 When these guys die... (I had one that did) they begin to lose their arms and generally fall apart. Not moving is not a big concern, in particular when you first add them. They do have a short lifespan in tanks. I have not had, nor have I seen one live more than six to eight months. ...their natural life span might be less than a year for all I know however, it might not be that the system is not suitable. Quote Link to comment
jpod Posted September 22, 2007 Author Share Posted September 22, 2007 When these guys die... (I had one that did) they begin to lose their arms and generally fall apart. Not moving is not a big concern, in particular when you first add them. They do have a short lifespan in tanks. I have not had, nor have I seen one live more than six to eight months. ...their natural life span might be less than a year for all I know however, it might not be that the system is not suitable. He's actually moved a little bit since i posted the pic. Maybe it's just the current though who knows. I'll keep an eye out on the little fella. It's a shame they don't live that long. Thanks! Quote Link to comment
dshnarw Posted September 23, 2007 Share Posted September 23, 2007 Thanks for your help guys! The people at my LFS has been really helpful to me. They know how long I've had my tank and they always advice me on the livestock that I can and can't get. I'll trust them and wait till tomorrow to see if he's still immobile. Thanks again!! Well, there's your first mistake in reefing. Think about it - should you really take the advice of someone who's business is based on you buying something? And they DONT have short lifespans. They simply STARVE in aquariums. So, not a shame, but lack of responsibility. Quote Link to comment
moonjellii Posted September 23, 2007 Share Posted September 23, 2007 I considered getting one of these starfish before and when I asked my LFS they told me it was a bad idea because they have a tendency to starve in smaller tanks, hence the short life-span. Quote Link to comment
jpod Posted September 23, 2007 Author Share Posted September 23, 2007 Well, there's your first mistake in reefing. Think about it - should you really take the advice of someone who's business is based on you buying something? And they DONT have short lifespans. They simply STARVE in aquariums. So, not a shame, but lack of responsibility. I also forgot to mention that this small LFS is owned by a young couple and not a big franchise. One time I asked them about possibly pairing one of their black sebae clowns with my ocellaris and they told me it was a bad idea. They also told me to be cautious about getting another shrimp for my tank because I already own a coral banded shrimp. So I hardly think that they're just after my money. Also, I was told that you can feed them with flake food and small pieces of shrimp so how can they starve if I feed them regularly? Am I missing something? Thanks. Quote Link to comment
justinl Posted September 24, 2007 Share Posted September 24, 2007 im gonna agree with dsharw here. if someone is selling you stuff take what they say with a very large grain of salt... it's always best to do your own research and get info from reliable sources.... BEFORE you buy! the only times i ever ask questions at an lfs anymore is to see if the person serving me actually knows what he/she's doing... and of course i already know the answer to the question. for feeding, you were told wrong. many of the starfish in the aquarium trade have diets that are largely unknown to us... we can only take educated guesses. the fromia is no exception. and the only way to supply this unknown diet is to have everything available (ie big tank with matured rock/sand). i have never heard of a fromia accepting supplemental food of any kind. Quote Link to comment
fraggle rockette Posted September 24, 2007 Share Posted September 24, 2007 i have no idea about fromias, but i have an orange linkia that is about 2" and eats frozen cyclops and mysis- sometimes i'll flatten the mysis and try and get it between him and the glass, but for the most part he picks it up off rocks and the sandbed... seems to be doing okay since i've had it since feb/march and is finally growing that 5th arm back. best of luck! Quote Link to comment
jpod Posted September 25, 2007 Author Share Posted September 25, 2007 Thanks fraggle rockette! oh and "If there is insufficient algae growth in the aquarium, the diet should be supplemented with flaked foods, and small pieces of fish or mussel." - http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Di....cfm?pCatId=578 Are they not a reliable source? Quote Link to comment
clifford513 Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 oh and "If there is insufficient algae growth in the aquarium, the diet should be supplemented with flaked foods, and small pieces of fish or mussel." - http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Di....cfm?pCatId=578 Are they not a reliable source? Not in this case, at least not ime. Mine would not accept any supplemental feeding and actually seem to feed in the areas that had congregations of small sponges. I did extensive research and fromia sp. just has a proven, poor track record in small aquaria. I understand your desire to keep it. I loved mine and bought it impulsively. Repost an update here, in six months. Quote Link to comment
supahtim Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 liveaquaria.com is not a reliable source. it is outdated, false, and they are in the business of selling. unfortunately so is that "trusted" lfs of yours. Tim Quote Link to comment
fraggle rockette Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 oh i forgot to mention, mine seems to take a liking to eating the stomellas in my tank as well. looks like i need to find a stomella dealer now. lol. Quote Link to comment
walzon Posted September 27, 2007 Share Posted September 27, 2007 maybe it's just me but have you ever looked at the drs. product reviews? I guess nobody has had a bad experience with aquarium products, cause according to the customer's every product they sell is great and all you need to do is pick one. hmmm I wonder if they control which reviews to post so that all the products get great reviews. naaaa they wouldnt do that, they are doctors and doctors help people, right? Quote Link to comment
jpod Posted September 27, 2007 Author Share Posted September 27, 2007 such cynism on this board. well he's been moving around my tank. let's hope he doesn't die (soon) Thanks guys! Quote Link to comment
supahtim Posted September 27, 2007 Share Posted September 27, 2007 make sure you take it out right away because it'll make a dirty mess when it does die. i know... i lost a couple in the past too, all thanks to a "trusty" LFS and liveaquaria.com. and in the future, please do some good research before you buy livestock. buying things for your new nano system that need large well established aquariums generally isn't a good idea... learn from other's mistakes! lol nazi-reef.com. that's pretty far off. we're trying to get people to NOT to kill things. all nazis did was kill things. Tim Quote Link to comment
kush'sreef Posted April 26, 2013 Share Posted April 26, 2013 i just bought a starfish for my very established 22g nano and it only moved when i turned off my pump for feeding? should i be worried? sorry to jack thread thought it was relevant. jeff Quote Link to comment
ReefPioneer Posted February 13, 2021 Share Posted February 13, 2021 I know this post is old but I just added a red linkia to my 75g and he hasn't hardly moved in 15mins. I haven't had one in 15yrs and I dont remember my blue doing it. I acclimated him for 45mins. Hope everything is well 4t 55g Quote Link to comment
mcarroll Posted March 4, 2021 Share Posted March 4, 2021 Wow....this is one of the most comically negative threads I've ever seen. WTF was happening here in 2007??? I never complain about "waking up" old threads normally, but this one should have been left for dead. Dunno if threads ever get deleted here, but I'd delete this one. Quote Link to comment
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