How to Care for a Blacktip Starfish

The blacktip Fromia starfish (Fromia indica) with its handsome orange and black markings is widely available in the aquarium trade. This starfish is not, however, an animal for beginners. It is very sensitive to changes in its environment, and sudden changes in water chemistry or temperature can kill it. Those experienced with maintaining a reef tank may have success caring for this species, although it is difficult to breed.

Things You'll Need

  • Plastic container
  • Established reef tank
  • Flake fish food
  • Meaty foods
  • Nitrate test kits
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Instructions

    • 1

      Introduce the starfish to the tank. Float the plastic bag the starfish came in and add small amounts of tank water to the bag over a period of several hours. Do not let the starfish, or any part of its body, become exposed to air, which could kill it.

    • 2

      Allow the starfish to acclimatize for one or two days before feeding.

    • 3

      Drop small amounts of flake fish food on or near the starfish to supplement the food in the tank. Provide small pieces of meaty food, such as shrimp, fish or shellfish, occasionally. Although blacktip starfish may scavenge for food in the tank, this species has been known to starve if not provided with extra food. Feed it a few times a week, gauging how much to feed by how much the starfish eats at a time.

    • 4

      Conduct weekly nitrate tests and increase the amount or frequency of water changes if levels rise.