Care Level: Easy
Temperament:Â Peaceful
Reef Compatible:Â No
General Description: The Red Knob Starfish, also known as the Red Knobby Starfish and African Starfish, may be one of the most striking starfish surely to make a statement in a FOWLR (fish only with live rock) aquarium. Originating from shallow and deep waters of the Indian Ocean, the Red knob starfish can reach a size of 12″ across and sports an overall thick, gray body with many red protrusions connected by red lines that give it a grid-like appearance. Similar to the care of the Chocolate chip starfish (Protoreaster nodosus), the Red knob starfish is a relatively hardy species with easy dietary requirements to fulfill.
Diet Requirements: Red knob starfish are carnivores. Directly offer it pieces of shrimp, clam, squid or other meaty foods at least once a week.
Tank Requirements: An established, minimum aquarium size of 75 gallons is recommended to house an adult Red knob starfish. Maintaining stable water parameters is a very important component to the success of keeping this invertebrate; they are intolerable of high nitrates. Red knob starfish can be sensitive to temperature, pH, and salinity changes. Generous live rock will mimic the natural environment of the Red knob starfish and give it ample places to forage. Do not house Red knob starfish with fish that can harm it, such as pufferfish and certain triggerfish species. Red knob starfish are not reef safe because they will consume soft corals, large polyp stony corals, sponges, tubeworms, clams and other starfish as an adult; small specimens may only consume algae, but adding one to a reef even at this size is with caution at best. It is absolutely necessary to take time acclimating a Red knob starfish; we suggest via drip acclimation. Recommended water conditions: 76-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, salinity 1.024-1.026. Limit air exposure of Red knob starfish when handling.
Purchase Size: Small: 2″ to 4″; Medium: 4″ to 6″; Large: 6″ to 8″
Note: Your item may not look identical to the image provided due to variation within species. Purchase size is approximate.