Ghardaqana Sea Star
From Microcosm Aquarium Explorer
This attractive star is sometimes difficult to keep alive in the home aquarium. Janine Cairns-Michael
[edit] Overview
Endemic to the Red Sea, this species typically is red or orange with white or yellow contrasting large beadlike plates on the upper surface. It will likely do best in a large, well-established tank with a lot of sponge and epifaunal growth.
Family: Ophidiasteridae
Other common name(s):
- Red Sea Marble Star
- Ghardaqa Brittle Star
- Royal Tile Starfish
Native range:
Maximum length: 7.5 cm (3 in)
Minimum aquarium size: 380 L (100 gal)
Lighting: Immaterial.
Water: Marine 27 °C (300 K, 81 °F) - 29 °C (302 K, 84 °F)
[edit] Feeding
Diet unknown. Possibly eats sponges. Will often live for a year or so and then die of malnutrition.
[edit] Aquarium Compatibility
Not suitable for most tanks.
[edit] Special Care
Needs higher salinities and temperatures than most sea stars. The salinity should be in the range of 37 to 38 ppt, with temperatures of 82 to 84°F (27 to 29 °C).
[edit] Notes
As with all echinoderms, it should be acclimated very slowly, over a period of hours, to new water conditions.
| Common name | Ghardaqana Sea Star +, Red Sea Marble Star +, Ghardaqa Brittle Star +, and Royal Tile Starfish + |
| Family | Ophidiasteridae + |
| Genus | Fromia + |
| Image credit | JCM + |
| Lighting | Immaterial. + |
| Maximum length | 3 in + |
| Minimum aquarium size | 100 gal + |
| Native range | Red Sea +, and Mauritius + |
| Reference | A PocketExpert Guide to Marine Invertebrates + |
| Specific name | ghardaqana + |
| Text credit | RLS + |
| Water max temp | 302 K (29 °C, 84 °F) + |
| Water min temp | 300 K (27 °C, 81 °F) + |
| Water type | Marine + |