Biscuit Starfish - hands down, my favorite invert!

[DarthChaos]

@AydenLincoln

I got some food under the starfish today - had to fight off the fish...but he stayed put for a while. Must have been enjoying it.

I make my own reef food - too a thin, small piece and put him on top. I dont think he knew what it was at first - but he's been enjoying it! Lol

 

[AydenLincoln]

@AydenLincoln

I got some food under the starfish today - had to fight off the fish...but he stayed put for a while. Must have been enjoying it.

I make my own reef food - too a thin, small piece and put him on top. I dont think he knew what it was at first - but he's been enjoying it! Lol

That’s great!!

 

[Holy handgrenade]

Hi! You should’ve tagged me lol you know I own one too…and was able to find out the little info that’s known on them by speaking with marine biologists and research institutes. For those of you wondering it’s a Goniaster Tessellatus and they are found in the substrate of the Atlantic Ocean from Florida to West Africa but not on coral reefs. Belonging to the order of valvatida they feed on microorganisms in the substrate by pushing their stomachs out also part of many stars who will readily consume bivalves like clams. Due to the depth and locations they inhabit they are not often seen or studied. Coral is not part of their natural diet so if you observe one eating coral it’s starving/desperate for food or not getting the proper nutrition. I feed mine clams, krill soaked in plankton, and occasionally algae pellets. I hope this helps someone looking for one. As for cost I paid $50 USD anything more is marked up significantly. Ask your fish store if they have exporters from West Africa as they are commonly collected over there under the name West African Biscuit Starfish but are not often imported to other places and don’t appear in the hobby often.

This is great info, thank you for sharing! Do you know where i could find one online?

 

[AydenLincoln]

This is great info, thank you for sharing! Do you know where i could find one online?

There was one place in Canada that had them and Quality Marine occasionally gets them but other than that you’d have to get them from an exporter or ask your lfs!

 

[ReeferHD]

There was one place in Canada that had them and Quality Marine occasionally gets them but other than that you’d have to get them from an exporter or ask your lfs!

CoralsAnonymous gets Australian biscuit stars (pentagonaster duebeni/Tosia australis?) on occasion too, looking to get one when my tank is rid of dinoflagellates.

 

[AydenLincoln]

CoralsAnonymous gets Australian biscuit stars (pentagonaster duebeni/Tosia australis?) on occasion too, looking to get one when my tank is rid of dinoflagellates.

Those are different species and the tosia australis are cold water species. Biscuit stars is an unofficial term based on how it looks and the ones you just mentioned don’t have the best track record in captivity. The tosia australis feeds exclusively on sponges, sea squirts, and bryozoans. Pentagonaster is not similar to mine in terms of diet/size and is difficult to care for as well. I wouldn’t recommend either.

 

[Holy handgrenade]

There was one place in Canada that had them and Quality Marine occasionally gets them but other than that you’d have to get them from an exporter or ask your lfs!

Ok cool, thanks! I live in Tampa bay and there are lots of lfs's here, just like to see online options too for some things i cant get around here. I will check around and see. This thread inspired me to get another cool addition to my tank (and less money in my wallet,lol!)

 

[ReeferHD]

Those are different species and the tosia australis are cold water species. Biscuit stars is an unofficial term based on how it looks and the ones you just mentioned don’t have the best track record in captivity. The tosia australis feeds exclusively on sponges, sea squirts, and bryozoans. Pentagonaster is not similar to mine in terms of diet/size and is difficult to care for as well. I wouldn’t recommend either.

thank you for informing me on this, poor guy would've starved in my tank.

 

[raythereefer]

I know there is very limited information - on the extremely beautiful and unique, Biscuit Starfish. I checked...but took the plunge anyways.

I have had this handsome fellow...since July 2022. I do nothing special, to feed him. He shares my 190g DT - with a good variety of inverts, but doesn't seem to have an issue finding food. He is constantly on the move.

Biggest question I hear: Are they reef safe?

Tonight I took a pic....of him giving a dieing plate coral, attention. Only other time, I've seen him give a coral a 2nd look - was a small gonipora frag - that again, I'm sure what dieing.

Tank full of healthy (well, I "think" healthy), happy LPS & SPS - starfish shows zero interest in.

So - if you see one, would I recommend one? Hellz yes! Definitely a showpiece invert.

How's your starfish doing is he still alive ? Is he eating corals ? Got the chance to get one and can't find much info on them

 

[ReeferHD]

How's your starfish doing is he still alive ? Is he eating corals ? Got the chance to get one and can't find much info on them

I would like to know how it’s doing too. I have the opportunity to get one.

 

[ReeferHD]

Just picked this guy up, put some squid under him and the next day it was gone and he looked fatter, how often do you guys think I should feed him? I was thinking once a day or once every other day.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Just picked this guy up, put some squid under him and the next day it was gone and he looked fatter, how often do you guys think I should feed him? I was thinking once a day or once every other day.

I'd do either one small to medium feeding a day or one medium to large feeding every other day (I've actually heard of both methods being used successfully in the aquaculture of predatory stars) - I'd be tempted to try both for a couple of weeks to a month and see which the stars seems to respond to the best.

 

[BigAl07]

Just picked this guy up, put some squid under him and the next day it was gone and he looked fatter, how often do you guys think I should feed him? I was thinking once a day or once every other day.

SCORE!! It looks BEAUTIFUL

 

[DarthChaos]

So, its been a little while.....and I wanted to share an update.

My biscuit is still going strong.....in fact, a month or so ago, he got a friend.

My big boy is now continuing to thrive after more than 2 years. To date - no corals effected, no inverts (that I've ever seen). Both biscuits are happy and content - cruising the tank.

Absolutely doing nothing special for them. No spot feeding- no supplemental foods at all. Clearly, not needed in my tank

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

So, its been a little while.....and I wanted to share an update.

My biscuit is still going strong.....in fact, a month or so ago, he got a friend.

My big boy is now continuing to thrive after more than 2 years. To date - no corals effected, no inverts (that I've ever seen). Both biscuits are happy and content - cruising the tank.

Absolutely doing nothing special for them. No spot feeding- no supplemental foods at all. Clearly, not needed in my tank

Is the second pic there the new star or the old one?

 

[DarthChaos]

Is the second pic there the new star or the old one?

New. I got him about a month ago. Got 2 biscuits in the tank now.

He is VERY small....compared to my elder one.

 

[DarthChaos]

So, I've seen a few posts recently about these starfish needing LOW temps - falling apart - or NOT being reef safe (ie: eating corals).

1. My 1st Biscuit has been in reef rank temp (79-81) for over 2 years. They clearly don't need lower temperatures to thrive.

2. Starfish can die for many reasons, IMO. Lack of food, is generally the number 1 cause. I personally have never needed to spot feed - but if yours isn't doing well, try that!

3. Any invert - or fish, can turn on corals. We've all seen "reef safe" fish....eat corals. It happens. If it's happening, it's probably for a reason. Again - lack of food. Again, I've only ever seen me 1st Biscuit go for deing corals.....they both pass over live - with zero interest.

Second to that...there are 2 types of Biscuit Starfish on the market. One from Africa and one from Australia. The aussie ones ARE found in coral reefs and are more likely to see corals are food. The Africian ones - are not....and thus, this tends to make them the safer bet.

Goniaster Tessellatus - are the ones from Africa. They are harder to get....and there's really know way, other than trust your LFS - to know the difference.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Goniaster Tessellatus - are the ones from Africa. They are harder to get....and there's really know way, other than trust your LFS - to know the difference.

Actually, there is a way to tell in this case:

Looking at photos of both Goniaster tesselatus and Anchitosia queenslandensis, I can see how the mistake was made - they look very similar, with the only easily noticeable differences being that A. queenslandensis is smooth on top and typically showing slightly lighter coloration at the tips of the legs, while G. tesselatus has spikes on top and lacks the lighter colored tips.

 

[RSNJReef]

Hi! You should’ve tagged me lol you know I own one too…and was able to find out the little info that’s known on them by speaking with marine biologists and research institutes. For those of you wondering it’s a Goniaster Tessellatus and they are found in the substrate of the Atlantic Ocean from Florida to West Africa but not on coral reefs. Belonging to the order of valvatida they feed on microorganisms in the substrate by pushing their stomachs out also part of many stars who will readily consume bivalves like clams. Due to the depth and locations they inhabit they are not often seen or studied. Coral is not part of their natural diet so if you observe one eating coral it’s starving/desperate for food or not getting the proper nutrition. I feed mine clams, krill soaked in plankton, and occasionally algae pellets. I hope this helps someone looking for one. As for cost I paid $50 USD anything more is marked up significantly. Ask your fish store if they have exporters from West Africa as they are commonly collected over there under the name West African Biscuit Starfish but are not often imported to other places and don’t appear in the hobby often.

Awesome info. Thank you!!

 

[DarthChaos]

Actually, there is a way to tell in this case:

Good to know.

I know the African ones are harder to come by....so, it makes sense that Aussies would be sold as "safe" (or the African type) to make sales.

It isnt till ppl put them in their tank and the starfish goes after corals, you find out - it ain't safe.

It's always a gamble with fish/inverts - look at emerald crabs, perfect example.