feather / backet stars for sale

S

SeaDude

I've always thought that although they are beautiful, feather stars should not be kept in captivity. Our tanks do not have enough phytoplankton for them.

I noticed a LFS that is stocking them because people keep buying them. I went looking for some official resources to help convince them that this is not a good idea. Reef Invertebrates suggests that only "advanced" aquariasts attempt them.

Anyone have any other resources that discusses their survivablity in aquariums or lack there of?
 
As with many other very difficult to keep items (Flame scallops, shark eggs, etc) I think they should be sold, however, I don't think they should be carried regularly. I.E. If someone knows enough about what they're doing to ask that said item be special ordered, I have no problem with a LFS doing that. I do however have a problem with LFS carrying such items for people to casually buy without knowing it's requirements...
 
We saw these for the first time a couple of days ago and were immediately enthralled. They are really pretty and fun to watch. We asked the guy at the store some probing questions, and he didn't have much information for us. We came home and did some web research and I couldn't find much there, either. We really want one, but I had no idea there was controversy around them! :shock:
Following this thread with interest...
 
You should ask "harial" - she just did some study on these, as she wanted to keep one. Dunno if she ever decided to GET one, butlots of research :wink:
 
THey are a deep water inhabitant. So, I would imagine that the star would require colder conditions and less light than what is in the typical reef.
-Chuck
 
Feather stars are REALLY difficult to keep as they do indeed have a lot of requirements. ChuKronos is right in that they are a deeper water(like bottom of the ocean'deeper water') inhabitant but I am not really sure that they require a much colder environment. I talked to one guy on reefcentral who has had one for over a year and he keeps his tank at 76 degrees. But temp and lighting is not the real problem with keeping this animal. Their food is.

Feather star don't feed on phyto because it is just too big. that is the biggest problem that seems afflict them in captivity because the aquarist is dosing the tank with DTs phyto but the star can not feed on it as they need food that is less than 150 micrometers(phyto is between 200 and 400 micrometers).

Oyster eggs are the best bet that I have found as they are very small and highly nutritious. I think I may try next year to keep one. But before I spend the 50 dollars that the LFS wanted I think I will try a flame scallop. Both animals have near identical needs but (not trying to sound callous) scallops are much cheaper.

I really wanted one(seeing a pic of one was kind of the push for me to start an aquarium in the first place) but I have since contented myself with dusters and coco worms. If you want to keep one a lot of research is needed.
 
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