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How to Feed a Red Starfish

Much like the plecostomus of the freshwater world, the saltwater sea star, or starfish, is often considered a "bottom dweller," which means it will be useful in reducing the amount of bacteria building up on the surfaces of your tank. As an omnivore, the red starfish of Indonesia will contribute much to your aquarium -- from adding a flash of color and interest to keeping the glass and reef clean. It will dig into the treats you regularly feed your fish, even young and tiny crustaceans, but you can also feed your starfish individually every week or two to make sure it's getting all the nutrients it needs.

Things You'll Need

Forceps or tweezers
Fish flakes, frozen chops or packaged tablets of shrimp, fish or crab

Instructions

- 1
  Observe your Red Sea Star to see what it's eating and what it isn't; it could be eating bacteria from your glass, but shying away from the other food being provided to your tank's inhabitants. As an omnivore, it should be getting nutrients from both sources.
- 2
  Thaw your food, if frozen.
- 3
  Use forceps or tweezers to place a piece of thawed food near your red starfish's mouth at the center of its spoke on the bottom. Make sure it's eating the morsel. If you're using flakes, you should be able to determine just by observation if your starfish is accepting this as food.
- 4
  Feed a red starfish the type of food it enjoys a few times a week on an individual basis. This will ensure that the slow-moving creature will get the nutrients it needs to survive and thrive.
- 5
  Adjust the amount of food it receives by lengthening or shortening the periods between feedings, depending on how receptive your Red Sea Star is to the food. The amount will vary on size, temperament and available resources.

Animals & Science