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	Starfish in tropical tank
stallion81 Big Fish Posts: 327 Kudos: 255 Votes: 143 Registered: 17-Jan-2004	Hello. Was wondering if it is possible to keep "dead" starfish in a tropical tank. I recieved 2 from a buddy from Fla.(vacation), and he did not ask if they were fish tank safe. I have been soaking for 2 days and 1 of them seems "soft" now. Will they be OK in FW or could it harm fish? Thx for replies.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:57
CoryAddict Enthusiast Posts: 184 Kudos: 231 Votes: 6 Registered: 16-Dec-2004	Starfish are rough so they can probably hurt your algea eaters and bottom dwellers. I would not take the risk they might be dangerous if the sellers put some kind of chemical on them to make them stay "fresh"
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:57
john.stone Banned Posts: 1600 Kudos: 2332 Votes: 18 Registered: 03-Apr-2003	They will leech calcium and other nasties into your water I suspsect... Like putting a shell in your tank... Don't but anything marine, alive or dead, in your freshwater tank.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:57
stallion81 Big Fish Posts: 327 Kudos: 255 Votes: 143 Registered: 17-Jan-2004	Well I've kept shells in my tanks before ,some I've got straight from the ocean myself. With cleanings Ive never had probs with shells before. The starfish is diff though, not hard like most shells. But to be safe they are going to the garbage, wish I would have asked before soaking LOL.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:57
john.stone Banned Posts: 1600 Kudos: 2332 Votes: 18 Registered: 03-Apr-2003	The shells are going to raise your pH... Which is a bad thing if you have fish that aren't aftican...
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:57
Natalie Ultimate Fish Guru Apolay Wayyioy Posts: 4499 Kudos: 3730 Votes: 348 Registered: 01-Feb-2003	Also, unless you remove all the flesh from the starfish and just have the skeleton (which will look scary - I know because I've dissected them) it will start to rot and pollute your water. I'm not your neighbor, you Bakersfield trash.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:57
keithgh Ultimate Fish Guru Posts: 6371 Kudos: 6918 Votes: 1542 Registered: 26-Apr-2003	I agree it will start to rot and then the major problems will occur. Keith Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do. I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT? VOTE NOW VOTE NOW
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:57
fishyhelper288 Fish Guru Posts: 2161 Kudos: 1951 Votes: 137 Registered: 29-Feb-2004	i have shells and a small piece of some kind of coral, it hasnt altered the tank, i tested the water just last week, and it was the same as all my other tanks, but it is in a 30 gallon, it looks nice, and the fry can hide in them, mystery snails and apple snails look nice too
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:57


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