Chocolate Chip Starfish in Reef Tank

[mike ling]

My 5 year old had Grandpa buy her a Chocolate Chip Starfish at Petco. Now I find out that this type of Star fish is only suitable in fish only tanks. I have a Reef tank with Corals, Feather dusters, Shrimp, Crabs, & cleaning crew but no fish yet.

Has anyone had experience with this carnivorous type of starfish creating havoc in their reef tank ?

Should I be returning this starfish to the ocean ?

Is there a species of starfish that is suitable for a Reef ?

[tendar]

The chocolate chip needs to be removed it is definetly not reef safe.
Most all linka star are good and serpent stars. There are others but not found for sale alot.

[DaveC]

Get your self a banded serpent star, easy to care for...or a sand star is very easy to care for also, just keep in mind if you are concerned about micro-organisms in your sand bed then do not go with the sand star, but these are very common and should be able to find either one easily..brittle stars get pretty large, but are reef safe..the linka's as mentioned above are reef safe, but I have seen many who can not keep them long..

DaveC