Paddletail Starfish

Geographical Origin and Habitat: Tropical Indo-Pacific, from East Africa to the Great Barrier Reef. Found on deep outer slopes and sandy patches near reefs.

Taxonomy: Family Oreasteridae, genus Choriaster. Features a thick, pillow-like body with short, stubby, rounded arms resembling fingers.

Social Behavior: Solitary and slow. Peaceful toward fish, but predatory toward sessile invertebrates. Forages on sand beds and flat rock zones.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Pale pinkish-beige or cream color, often with darker brown or reddish patches in the center. No visual differences between sexes.

Tank Setup: Requires a very large tank of at least 400 liters. Needs a spacious sand bed with minimal rock obstructions to allow easy movement.

Diet and Feeding: Carnivorous scavenger. Feeds on detritus, carrion, sponges, and small anemones. Supplement with regular feedings of chopped fish or shrimp meat.

Water Quality: Keep standard marine parameters stable. pH 8.0-8.3, specific gravity 1.023-1.025. Avoid high nitrates and water chemistry fluctuations.

Compatibility and Tankmates: Not reef-safe. Will consume corals, sponges, and sessile invertebrates. Best kept in a fish-only system with peaceful tankmates.

Aquarium Breeding: Not recorded in home aquariums. Wild reproduction is sexual, releasing gametes into the water column.

Risks and Diseases: Highly sensitive to copper treatments. Slow drip acclimation is mandatory to prevent tissue necrosis from osmotic shock.