[Samper]

I've been wanting a starfish lately. An lfs near me has some brittles and some chocolate chips. The brittles are $20 and the chocolate chips are $15 I know this is a little high but seems to be my only option. The brittles they have are all pretty good size atleast 5 inch arms. The chocolate chips are quite a bit smaller but much thicker in the arms. I have quite a bit of LR in my 20g about 40-45lbs but am not sure if my habitat is suitable for either of these. I have also read that there is some debate as to the reef safeness of the brittles. What do you guys think?

[James]

Originally Posted by Samper

I've been wanting a starfish lately. An lfs near me has some brittles and some chocolate chips. The brittles are $20 and the chocolate chips are $15 I know this is a little high but seems to be my only option. The brittles they have are all pretty good size atleast 5 inch arms. The chocolate chips are quite a bit smaller but much thicker in the arms. I have quite a bit of LR in my 20g about 40-45lbs but am not sure if my habitat is suitable for either of these. I have also read that there is some debate as to the reef safeness of the brittles. What do you guys think?

Get neither. Maybe look at (linckia Laevigata) Blue starfish.
But be sure to drip acclimate and watch the water quality, if you decide to try one. Kinda risky putting a star in a small tank.

Brittles are very sensitive to changes in water chemistry, salinity, and quality.
If they become the least bit unhappy about your water quality, they will shed their arms and die of starvation because they can't move. Not recommended for a 20gal. tank where the water quality, salinity, and chemistry can change rather quickly.

As for the chocolate chip, look at this:
http://www.aquahobby.com/marine/e_chipstar.php

Good luck

[Samper]

Thank you very much.......I'll wait til the 75.

[reefsus]

Chocolates definitly arent reef safe. When i upgrade to my 120, im going to be able to pull my brittles out.

[Poseidon]

I would skip the stars for now... They are ALL a PITA!

[reefsus]

Ive had both brittles and serpants in my tank, and never had a problem with them.

[Sueet]

Chocolate chip stars will eat your corals...brittles/serpents would be ok temporarily, til your 75 is up, especially if you get a small one...avoid the green brittle tho, since they are reputed to catch and eat small fish when they get larger... I have 2 green brittles (about 7-8 inches across tip to tip right now), they've never bothered my fish yet, but I hand feed them krill, silversides, and formula one flakes... I also have 2 very small serpent stars in the same tank with the brittles, and another stripe-legged un-id'd rescued star..they all hang out together, and seem pretty happy.

[Samper]

I've decided to hold off until I get the larger one established then I'll look into the linckia and brittles.

[Arctic Fox]

I've had a chocolate chip starfish in my tank almost as long as it's been set up, and he's never bothered any of my mushrooms or polyps, I dunno, maybe they just don't like to eat those or I just got really lucky. Anywho, he's a cool little critter

[Samper]

See it's so odd, I know somoene who keeps a chocolate chip in a reef tank with no problems, also read somewhere online that it's a hit or miss situation. I'm not gonna take my chances with this setup so I"ll just stick to what I know is safe.