Description
Basket Starfish (Astroboa ernae)
Overview:
The Basket Starfish is a highly intricate and fascinating echinoderm, featuring long, branching arms that form a delicate, basket-like structure. Nocturnal and slow-moving, it adds a unique visual element to established marine aquariums.
Origin:
Native to the Indo-Pacific, commonly found on coral reefs and rocky substrates.
Feeding:
Suspension feeder. Captures plankton and tiny particles from the water column. In aquariums, may require supplemental feeding with finely chopped meaty foods or specialized plankton feeds.
Tank Mates:
Reef-safe with fish and corals. Avoid housing with aggressive or predatory species that may damage its delicate arms.
Aggression:
Completely peaceful.
Experience Level:
Advanced. Requires a mature, well-established tank with excellent water quality, stable parameters, and low-flow areas for feeding.
Water Parameters:
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Temperature: 72–78°F (22–25.5°C)
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pH: 8.1–8.4
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Salinity: 1.023–1.025
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dKH: 8–12
