Little Shop of Coral
Green Yellow Knobbed Starfish (Pentaceraster sp.)
Green Yellow Knobbed Starfish (Pentaceraster sp.)
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The Green Yellow Knobbed Starfish is a bold, eye-catching sea star with raised knobs and rich colour that stands out on sandbeds and rockwork. It is a great display invert for larger marine aquariums, especially fish-only systems or very carefully planned setups. Like many large sea stars, it needs stable conditions and regular target feeding to thrive long-term.
Why we love it
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Bright green and yellow coloration with a dramatic knobbed texture
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Slow-moving showpiece invert that is easy to observe
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Adds a unique look and movement to sandbeds and open areas
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Great feature animal for larger displays
Care and Compatibility
Care Level: Moderate
Temperament: Peaceful
Reef Safe: No
Diet: Omnivore with a meaty preference
Adult Size: Up to ~10 to 12"
Minimum Tank Size: 75 to 100 gallons recommended
Feeding (Very Important)
Knobbed sea stars do best when they are fed consistently.
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Offer small pieces of shrimp, clam, squid, or other meaty marine foods
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Place food under the starfish near the center area so it can grab and feed
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Feed 2 to 3 times per week, more often in very clean tanks
If the starfish is constantly roaming or losing body mass, increase feeding.
Tank and Setup Notes
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Best in established, stable tanks with strong filtration and stable salinity
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Avoid rapid changes in temperature, salinity, and pH
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Never use copper-based medications in a system with sea stars
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Try to avoid long air exposure during transfers when possible
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Provide open space on sand and stable rockwork, it may dislodge loose frags
Compatibility Tips
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Not reef safe. It may eat sponges, clams, soft corals, and other sessile invertebrates
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Best kept in fish-only or carefully planned displays without delicate inverts
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Avoid predators like puffers and triggers that may bite arms and tube feet
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Use caution with aggressive crabs that may harass it
Acclimation and Health
Slow drip acclimation is strongly recommended. Sea stars are sensitive to parameter swings, so stability is key. Once settled and feeding consistently, it can be a hardy showpiece in the right system.
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LIGHT
LOW: Place coral at the bottom of the tank. Depending on the type, coral may need to be placed off sand and therefore mounted on a ceramic disc of piece of rock.
MEDIUM: Place coral at mid-range of the tank. Best placed/glued on top of a rock scape at mid-range height.
HIGH: Place coral from mid range to just below water level. SPS coral are shallow growing so they require and are able to tolerate intense light.
FLOW
LOW: Most soft coral do well with a small, gentle pulse. There are certain corals that can even be placed in areas of indirect flow, meaning places aside a rock structure or set into a entrance to a cave style space.
MEDIUM: Many LPS types of coral prefer medium pulse current. Most Euphyllia or corals that have more tissue structure connected to their skeleton, don’t like to be in a high flow area like the direct flow of the wave pump.
HIGH: Similar to high light, SPS enjoy being in some heavy current. Most LPS and SPS that branch encrust or plate prefer high flow that simulates the top water waves.
SKILL
ENTRY: While some may say beginner level, "Entry" is a good term to be used when starting out in the world of corals and marine life. Prior to adding livestock, you want to ensure that your reef has the proper parameters including zero levels of ammonia and nitrite. Seeing traces of nitrate in your waters is a good sign - just keep them at a lower level of 2ppm to 10ppm. Maintaining correct temperature and salinity are a huge factor to stable parameters. Starting to monitor your PH, alkalinity, calcium and magnesium is a great habit to get into to keep a successful reef.
While some soft coral don’t require too much light, having a proper reef light that puts out the proper pars is very important. You'll also want to have a good amount of flow and protected rock areas, as placing corals in their happy spot is ideal for success.
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