Starfish putting arm out of water

[AUSXMD]

Hello! My chocolate chip starfish, that I've only had about 6 days, goes to the waterline in the tank and bends one arm backwards out of the water. At times it will stay like this for a few hours. Does anyone know what this behavior may indicate? Appreciate you all!

Scott

 

[VintageReefer]

Hello! My chocolate chip starfish, that I've only had about 6 days, goes to the waterline in the tank and bends one arm backwards out of the water. At times it will stay like this for a few hours. Does anyone know what this behavior may indicate? Appreciate you all!

Scott

Mine does it too I assume it’s trying to get the mouth near the top edge of the water level

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

They use their tube feet as part of their respiration system. It likely means it's seeking more oxygen. You can test this by putting an airstone against the side of the glass. It will probably move into the stream of bubbles.

 

[AUSXMD]

They use their tube feet as part of their respiration system. It likely means it's seeking more oxygen. You can test this by putting an airstone against the side of the glass. It will probably move into the stream of bubbles.

Ok, thank you!

 

[sfin52]

They use their tube feet as part of their respiration system. It likely means it's seeking more oxygen. You can test this by putting an airstone against the side of the glass. It will probably move into the stream of bubbles.

I take it as it wants food because that's when I feed it.

But that's in itresting thought.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

I take it as it wants food because that's when I feed it.

But that's in itresting thought.

Their eyes have very poor resolution and primarily serve to ensure they dont stray too far from the reef in most species. Im fairly sure (but not certain) that they dont have the type of memory required for adaptive behavior that would lead them to seek food in a particular area or at a particular time since they're constantly moving in search of food in the wild.
I dont know what kind of star you have or what your tank is like, but would wonder if you use a skimmer to oxygenate the water.

 

[VintageReefer]

Their eyes have very poor resolution and primarily serve to ensure they dont stray too far from the reef in most species. Im fairly sure (but not certain) that they dont have the type of memory required for adaptive behavior that would lead them to seek food in a particular area or at a particular time since they're constantly moving in search of food in the wild.
I dont know what kind of star you have or what your tank is like, but would wonder if you use a skimmer to oxygenate the water.

My chocolate chip star is in my skimmer section of my fuge. The entire section has bubbles and he still does this. There is a large slot cut out to go to the next section, it’s a cryptic zone with dual outlet air pump in it blasting bubbles 24x7, he “waves” in here also. I just assume they are navigating the glass eating film

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

My chocolate chip star is in my skimmer section of my fuge. The entire section has bubbles and he still does this. There is a large slot cut out to go to the next section, it’s a cryptic zone with dual outlet air pump in it blasting bubbles 24x7, he “waves” in here also. I just assume they are navigating the glass eating film

I wasnt implying it's a bad thing or anything like that. It just seems to me the most likely reason for the behavior. The tube feet and papulae of a starfish compose its respiratory system so it would seem logical to me that exposing their tube feet to areas with a high concentration of oxygen idicates theyre doing it because they can receive more oxygen.

 

[VintageReefer]

I wasnt implying it's a bad thing or anything like that. It just seems to me the most likely reason for the behavior. The tube feet and papulae of a starfish compose its respiratory system so it would seem logical to me that exposing their tube feet to areas with a high concentration of oxygen idicates theyre doing it because they can receive more oxygen.

I don’t disagree or take offense. Just adding observation and info to the convo

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

I don’t disagree or take offense. Just adding observation and info to the convo

Cool...I was actually considering getting a starfish for my new tank

 

[AUSXMD]

Their eyes have very poor resolution and primarily serve to ensure they dont stray too far from the reef in most species. Im fairly sure (but not certain) that they dont have the type of memory required for adaptive behavior that would lead them to seek food in a particular area or at a particular time since they're constantly moving in search of food in the wild.
I dont know what kind of star you have or what your tank is like, but would wonder if you use a skimmer to oxygenate the water.

My chocolate chip star is in my skimmer section of my fuge. The entire section has bubbles and he still does this. There is a large slot cut out to go to the next section, it’s a cryptic zone with dual outlet air pump in it blasting bubbles 24x7, he “waves” in here also. I just assume they are navigating the glass eating film

So I have a 230 gallon Waterbox. I have 3 stars - a sand sifting rarely seen, a chocolate chip and blue linkia. I went to try and feed the chocolate chip and linkia but they had moved back down. I'll watch for them. I run a large octopus skimmer, and don't have an air stone, but can get one and give it a shot. Thanks again!
Scott

 

[sfin52]

Their eyes have very poor resolution and primarily serve to ensure they dont stray too far from the reef in most species. Im fairly sure (but not certain) that they dont have the type of memory required for adaptive behavior that would lead them to seek food in a particular area or at a particular time since they're constantly moving in search of food in the wild.
I dont know what kind of star you have or what your tank is like, but would wonder if you use a skimmer to oxygenate the water

It's in the return and fudge area of the sump. Very oxygen rich.

Doesn't do it all the time but every once and a while it's like that. I thought it's going after film and pineapple sponges.

 

[AUSXMD]

I take it as it wants food because that's when I feed it.

But that's in itresting thought.

So the choc chip star was doing it again this morning and I quickly thawed a clam and put the meat on the arm that was out of the water. It immediately moved the clam meat into position, expelled its stomach (or whatever that is ), and ingested it.

 

[Kapachuka3]

So the choc chip star was doing it again this morning and I quickly thawed a clam and put the meat on the arm that was out of the water. It immediately moved the clam meat into position, expelled its stomach (or whatever that is ), and ingested it.

Hows your star doing nowadays, im thinking about getting another one soon. I know they don’t do well in tanks generally but i think i could give one a better life than in a tank wheres its for sale at a store.

 

[Kapachuka3]

Hows your star doing nowadays, im thinking about getting another one soon. I know they don’t do well in tanks generally but i think i could give one a better life than in a tank wheres its for sale at a store.

I just want it to live for a while.

 

[sfin52]

I just want it to live for a while.

Mines going on 8 months and still doing real well. They will eat other inverts and coral. I put a urchin in with it. 2 days later the star had consumed it. Smh.

 

[Kapachuka3]

Mines going on 8 months and still doing real well. They will eat other inverts and coral. I put a urchin in with it. 2 days later the star had consumed it. Smh.

Dang it ate the fricking urchin? I didnt realize they did that, i have a pencil, what type did yours eat?

 

[AUSXMD]

Hows your star doing nowadays, im thinking about getting another one soon. I know they don’t do well in tanks generally but i think i could give one a better life than in a tank wheres its for sale at a store.

It's doing fine. It still occasionally comes to the top sticking an arm out. I put clam meat on it and in pulls it down to its mouth. I can't say they are intelligent enough to know they get can fed this way, but it gets fed. It's interesting to watch. Chocolate chip stars are much hardier than others like blue linkia in my experience. My blue linkia did not last long. My sand sifting star I only see about once a week or so, but is doing what it's supposed to.

 

[Kapachuka3]

It's doing fine. It still occasionally comes to the top sticking an arm out. I put clam meat on it and in pulls it down to its mouth. I can't say they are intelligent enough to know they get can fed this way, but it gets fed. It's interesting to watch. Chocolate chip stars are much hardier than others like blue linkia in my experience. My blue linkia did not last long. My sand sifting star I only see about once a week or so, but is doing what it's supposed to.

Would you recommend getting a chocolate chip starfish for me? I already have a pencil urchin but it is very relaxed and seems to be getting a lot of food already. So personally i do not think it will bother a starfish.

 

[AUSXMD]

Would you recommend getting a chocolate chip starfish for me? I already have a pencil urchin but it is very relaxed and seems to be getting a lot of food already. So personally i do not think it will bother a starfish.

Sure. I've kept urchins and stars together before. Just have something on hand to feed it when it exhibits this behavior at the water level.