Feather star

Iron Crab · 08-15-2001, 07:28 PM

Last week I stopped in at one of the locale LFS and they had a feather star. This one was remarkable and the first one that I have seen alive. The first two were already dead. I know these stars are extremely hard to keep and was wondering if anyone out there has been able to keep one? All my books say to keep clear of them and I was wondering why they are hard to keep. Anyone know? Thanks, Bill

piege · 08-16-2001, 09:57 AM

Because of the amount of food they need in order to thrive.

JP

FMarini · 08-16-2001, 01:11 PM

Hi
not only the amount of food, but mainly the food type....
For some reason these stars have developed a taste, and if you read any of Biogeeks(Dr BobToonen) essays on these starfish (do a search in the reefs.org library for his articles). You'll see that these starts reject non tastey food types and require copious amounts of a certain size (microscopic almost) food. We don't know really what they eat, and currently this type of food is NOT commercially available to the hobbist...
Leave them in the ocean
my opinion
frank

ranaman · 08-16-2001, 07:13 PM

If you simply must try one anyway you might check out this site for a background of their biology. see http://www.nova.edu/ocean/messing/crinoids/w1title.html
The one I tried to keep was ripped to bits by a peppermint shrimp most likely looking for food stuck to the arms. Definately not an easy animal to keep.

Dive_Master · 08-16-2001, 07:37 PM

Knock on wood, but I kept my for over six months now. I feed the tank phytoplankton, microvert, selcon and soaked Fomula 1 regularly. Once in a while I sir up the substrate to put some of detruit into the water for some of my other corals. I am sure that feather duster likes it.

Iron Crab · 08-16-2001, 09:28 PM

Thanks all, Don't think I'll try them for some time. Have to see more success with more hobbyists. Loved the site on them. When I have more time I'll dwell into it a little farther.

David · 08-17-2001, 01:40 PM

IMHO this is yet another animal we should leave to nature. I gave in to impulse and bought one a long time ago without doing any reaserch. It was very sad to watch it waste away over a period of several weeks. If we don't buy them they will stop importing them!!!!!

08-15-2001, 07:28 PM	#1
Iron Crab Council Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: N.W. Pennsylvania, USA Posts: 434	Feather star Last week I stopped in at one of the locale LFS and they had a feather star. This one was remarkable and the first one that I have seen alive. The first two were already dead. I know these stars are extremely hard to keep and was wondering if anyone out there has been able to keep one? All my books say to keep clear of them and I was wondering why they are hard to keep. Anyone know? Thanks, Bill

08-16-2001, 09:57 AM	#2
piege Citizen Join Date: Aug 2000 Posts: 157	Because of the amount of food they need in order to thrive. JP __________________ http://fyrman.homestead.com/welcome.html

08-16-2001, 07:13 PM	#4
ranaman Council Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Imperial Polk County, Fl Posts: 432	If you simply must try one anyway you might check out this site for a background of their biology. see http://www.nova.edu/ocean/messing/crinoids/w1title.html The one I tried to keep was ripped to bits by a peppermint shrimp most likely looking for food stuck to the arms. Definately not an easy animal to keep. __________________ "The octopus notices the little cowries."

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08-16-2001, 01:11 PM	#3
FMarini Citizen Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 179	Hi not only the amount of food, but mainly the food type.... For some reason these stars have developed a taste, and if you read any of Biogeeks(Dr BobToonen) essays on these starfish (do a search in the reefs.org library for his articles). You'll see that these starts reject non tastey food types and require copious amounts of a certain size (microscopic almost) food. We don't know really what they eat, and currently this type of food is NOT commercially available to the hobbist... Leave them in the ocean my opinion frank

08-16-2001, 07:37 PM	#5
Dive_Master Citizen Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 214	Knock on wood, but I kept my for over six months now. I feed the tank phytoplankton, microvert, selcon and soaked Fomula 1 regularly. Once in a while I sir up the substrate to put some of detruit into the water for some of my other corals. I am sure that feather duster likes it.

08-16-2001, 09:28 PM	#6
Iron Crab Council Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: N.W. Pennsylvania, USA Posts: 434	Thanks all, Don't think I'll try them for some time. Have to see more success with more hobbyists. Loved the site on them. When I have more time I'll dwell into it a little farther.

08-17-2001, 01:40 PM	#7
David Citizen Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: San Diego Posts: 210	IMHO this is yet another animal we should leave to nature. I gave in to impulse and bought one a long time ago without doing any reaserch. It was very sad to watch it waste away over a period of several weeks. If we don't buy them they will stop importing them!!!!!

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