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I have a twenty gallon tank with live rock, a couple clown fish and some cleaner shrimp....I went to the lfs to buy some emerald crabs, and - -here we go - I ended buying a chocolate chip sea star and a horned sea star...I know, I know! I told the guy what kind of set up I had, and wanted to keep, and he insisted that they were very peaceful, and wouldn't be a problem. Now I feel like a jackass for not doing my research...I was so patient up 'til that point. It's not so much the money, (35 for both), I just now am worried about the nature of my tank...Wheter or not these things are going to get huge and eat evrything in there! I like my cleaner shrimp. And I read all of the stories online that talk about Sea Stars eating sleeping fish. Man! I guess I could take them back or something...I don't know. I do know I learned a lesson the hard way. I don't even know how to feed these things...(I got a book, though)...Thoughts?

Ed

Dunno bout the horned sea star but I own a choc. chip star , he's in my FOWLR tank. I've had a coral banded shrimp in there w/ him and haven't had any probs. But I think both of those stars are not reef safe. I used to feed my star chunks of chopped clams and man would he go to town on that stuff. If you had smaller fish I suppose they might become snacks for them if the stars are large enough. My fish are good size compared to the star. See if you can trade them in or something. I would trade them in for a emerald or sally lightfoot crab depending on what type of fish and shrimp you have. Or maybe go w/ some peppermint shrimp.

Last edited by jkalfsbeck at 10-Jan-2005 09:47

I have a choc. chip star, and it's very big. It is not reef safe, The horned star is not either. They will eat up polips, etc. I will say the price might have been a bit high. Choc. chip stars go for around $10. The horned stars can be a bit more.




Dan

I have two Choc chips.Both eat the algea I supply with feeding clips.They even seem to get it before the Tang does.I haven't had any problems with them eating fish nor have I heard of them doing so.

I paid paid 35 for both together, 6 for the Choc. and 29 for the African Horned Monster...I returned the red one...kept the chocolate chip guy...The lfs guy took him back, but was kind of a jerk about it...Like I was a jackass for not wanting that thing to get so big...They'll sell you anything, I guess. Will not be goin back to that partic. shop.
The choc. seems to be doing fine...Man, he can move!

Thanks, eveybody.

Ed

That's a good price. Over time you will find the shops you want to go to, and avoid the ones like that one.

Dan