The Care of a Red Thorny Starfish

A mild-tempered algae eater in a reef tank, the red thorny starfish (Echinaster echinophorus) grows up to 8 inches in length. During daylight hours the starfish traverses the entire tank and is easily visible.

  1. Captivity Care

    • The red thorny starfish breeds well in captivity. It is impossible to differentiate the sex because there is no external differences between males and females. The species resides well in a 1-15 gallon tank.

    Identification

    • Visually intriguing, the red thorny starfish boasts a reddish-orange coloration with a bumpy skin texture. In its wild, the red thorny starfish is found around the waters of Florida all the way to the Bahamas. They are readily available in the aquarium trade for home enjoyment.

    Care Requirements

    • In captivity the starfish enjoys live porous rock. It poses no danger to invertebrates or coral. The red thorny starfish subsists by foraging on algae and discarded fish food. It requires a water temperature of 77 to 79 degrees Fahrenheit with a tank pH of 8.1 to 8.3, according to Fish DB.