Starfish Help question

[coutah]

Hi,

Just wondering if anyone can help me; I have a red-knobbed starfish (Protoreaster linckii) in my 350 litre tank (92 gallon) and my current water temperature is 26.2 C (79F) with about 45kg (100 pound) of live rock. I've got a smallish protein skimmer and an overflow bioball and ceramic mechanical filter inside the tank not a sump.

My question is: The starfish seems to always go to the surface of the water and stays up there attached to the glass pretty much all the time usually with one arm on the surface or outside the water, does anyone have any idea as to why he may be doing this?

 

[Mike612]

He's hungry. He's trying to catch food.

 

[Len]

:welcome:

Hi. Your starfish may also be seeking more oxygen. You may also want to consider a water change if you have high nitrate levels or if you ever used copper based medication.

FYI: These are not reef safe, so if you are keeping corals and other inverts, I'd remove the starfish.

 

[Mike612]

Len's answer's probably right. He has more experience in this hobby / Sorry for the assumption.

 

[coutah]

Realy? My local "professional" at the pet shop assured me that it was safe. Although he'll do anything to squeeze a couple of euros out of me. A little advise, if you move to Italy dont try to start a reef tank, or even a gold fish bowl! Anyway i only have two other smallish struggling corals left. Thanks anyway.

 

[Len]

Hehe. Most "professional" LFS will say anything to make a sale You just have to find a good LFS that is honest Small specimens are not dangerous and will eat mostly algae, but as they grow, they can feed on all types of inverts. Corals, worms, and especially clams are not safe.

Thanks for your warning about having a tank in Italy :lol: