Keeping starfish in reef.

[my2rotties]

I have had a chocolate chip star (brought it back to LFS long ago) and pillow starfish (had to bring them back as well... they eat mushrooms, ricordias and one ate my bubble coral. Perhaps they were not getting what they needed to eat and went to my softies. Never again, but lesson learned and nobody starved.

I am always told to get a sand sifting starfish, but would a sand sifting goby to the same job essentially? Also if a sand sifting goby can do the job, how many are recommended per 100g of water? If I had one of two in my 260g, would they be able to get enough to eat? A goby seems to be very busy and always sifting so I wonder if they do get what they need, even with one in my 260g at the moment.

[Myka]

Originally Posted by my2rotties

I have had a chocolate chip star (brought it back to LFS long ago) and pillow starfish (had to bring them back as well... they eat mushrooms, ricordias and one ate my bubble coral. Perhaps they were not getting what they needed to eat and went to my softies. Never again, but lesson learned and nobody starved.

I am always told to get a sand sifting starfish, but would a sand sifting goby to the same job essentially? Also if a sand sifting goby can do the job, how many are recommended per 100g of water? If I had one of two in my 260g, would they be able to get enough to eat? A goby seems to be very busy and always sifting so I wonder if they do get what they need, even with one in my 260g at the moment.

Your tank is too young for either starfish or sand sifting gobies. You have to wait for your tank to mature at least 6-8 months, but 12 months would be much better. Pillow Starfish are known to eat corals, and Chocolate Chip Starfish are near impossible to keep long term. I would consider both species better left in the ocean. Conches do a great job of tank cleaning - Fighting Conch or Orange Lipped Conch. I would suggest one for every 4 sq ft of sand. Bigger tanks could possibly sustain a Queen Conch, but I would suggest their keeping to the more experienced aquarists out there as they are a rather demanding species. You still need to wait for your tank to mature before adding Conches.