{"product_id":"chocolate-chip-starfish-protoreaster-nodosus-saltwater","title":"Chocolate Chip Starfish (Protoreaster nodosus)","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif;color:#1a1a1a;max-width:860px;line-height:1.7;\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"background:#FBE9E7;border-left:4px solid #D84315;padding:10px 14px;margin:0 0 14px;font-size:0.95em;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIn-store pickup only.\u003c\/strong\u003e Your order is reserved, we hold off on bagging until you arrive so it stays healthy in its display tank.\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eChocolate Chip Starfish\u003c\/strong\u003e (\u003cem\u003eProtoreaster nodosus\u003c\/em\u003e) is one of the most recognizable animals in the hobby, a broad tan five-armed sea star studded with blunt dark brown spines that really do look like chocolate chips pressed into dough. It is hardy, active, always visibly doing something, and it makes a genuine centerpiece for a fish-only saltwater tank. It is also a predator, which is the part most people find out too late. Read the reef warning below before you buy. Browse the rest of our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/collections\/salt-water\"\u003esaltwater livestock and supplies\u003c\/a\u003e to build around it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"background:#FBE9E7;border-left:4px solid #D84315;padding:12px 14px;margin:14px 0;font-size:0.97em;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNot reef safe. This is not a cleanup crew animal.\u003c\/strong\u003e A Chocolate Chip Starfish will eat soft corals, LPS, sponges, tube worms, clams, anemones, and other sea stars. It is an opportunistic predator that happens to scavenge, not a scavenger that occasionally slips. Keep it in a fish-only or FOWLR system. If you have a reef tank, this is the wrong animal, and we would rather tell you now than replace your corals later.\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #D84315;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eCare Guide\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDrip acclimate slowly. This is not optional.\u003c\/strong\u003e Echinoderms have no way to buffer a sudden salinity change, and a fast acclimation is the single most common reason a healthy sea star dies in its first week. Drip over 60 to 90 minutes minimum, longer if you can. Ask us and we will walk you through it at pickup.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNever expose it to air.\u003c\/strong\u003e Air pulled into the water vascular system can be fatal and does not always show for days. Move it submerged, in a bag or a cup of water, never lifted out with a net.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNo copper. Ever.\u003c\/strong\u003e Copper based medications and most anti-parasitic treatments kill invertebrates, and echinoderms are among the most sensitive of all. Never dose copper in a tank housing this animal, and be aware that copper lingers in rock and sand long after a treatment ends. Check with us before dosing anything.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTank size:\u003c\/strong\u003e 30 gallons is a workable starting point for the small specimens we stock, but plan honestly for the adult. These reach 10 to 15 inches across, and a full grown animal wants a mature 75 gallon or larger with real surface area to graze.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGive it sand.\u003c\/strong\u003e A soft aragonite bed of a couple inches or more suits its natural lagoon habitat and lets it settle and forage properly. \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/caribsea-seaflor-special-grade-reef-sand\"\u003eCaribSea Seaflor Special Grade\u003c\/a\u003e is a good fit. Sharp crushed coral is not.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMature tank only.\u003c\/strong\u003e Sea stars need stable, established water and will not tolerate a cycling or newly set up system. Nitrates should be low and steady.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWater parameters:\u003c\/strong\u003e 72 to 78°F, pH 8.1 to 8.4, salinity 1.023 to 1.025 specific gravity, dKH 8 to 12. Stability matters more than hitting an exact number, so a reliable \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/milwaukee-ma887-digital-salinity-refractometer\"\u003esalinity refractometer\u003c\/a\u003e is worth owning.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFeeding:\u003c\/strong\u003e a scavenging carnivore. It will find leftovers on its own, but do not rely on that. Target feed two or three times a week by placing a piece of meaty food directly under the animal, which everts its stomach over the food to digest it. \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/ocean-nutrition-frozen-clams-on-the-half-shell\"\u003eFrozen clams on the half shell\u003c\/a\u003e are the easiest option, along with chopped shrimp, mussel, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/sfbb-mysis-shrimp-cube-3-5oz\"\u003emysis\u003c\/a\u003e, or \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/ocean-nutrition-frozen-formula-one\"\u003eFormula One\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIt will climb the glass and the rockwork.\u003c\/strong\u003e That is normal behavior, not distress. Make sure rock is stacked stably, because a big sea star pushing through a loose aquascape can bring it down.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #D84315;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ctable style=\"border-collapse:collapse;width:100%;max-width:640px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eScientific name\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eProtoreaster nodosus\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCommon names\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eChocolate Chip Starfish, Chocolate Chip Sea Star, Horned Sea Star, Knobbed Sea Star\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFamily\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eOreasteridae\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCare level\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eIntermediate. Easy once settled, unforgiving during acclimation\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReef safe\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNo.\u003c\/strong\u003e Eats corals, clams, sponges, and tube worms\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTemperament\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003ePeaceful toward fish, predatory toward sessile invertebrates\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMax size\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e10 to 15 inches across\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMinimum tank\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e30 gallons to start, 75 gallons or more for an adult\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTemperature\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e72 to 78°F\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003epH\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e8.1 to 8.4\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSalinity\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e1.023 to 1.025 SG. Keep it stable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAlkalinity\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e8 to 12 dKH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDiet\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eCarnivore and scavenger. Target feed meaty foods\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSubstrate\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eSoft sand, 2 inches or deeper\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCopper\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eLethal. Never dose copper in this tank\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLifespan\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e5 to 7 years in a well kept tank\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eIndo-Pacific, in shallow sandy lagoons and seagrass beds\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePickup\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #FFCCBC;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eIn-store pickup at Squeaky's Aquatics\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #D84315;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eCompatibility\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGood with most fish.\u003c\/strong\u003e In a fish-only or FOWLR system it ignores tankmates entirely and they generally ignore it. It also coexists fine with other motile cleanup crew members such as \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/nassarius-snail-nassarius-sp-saltwater\"\u003eNassarius Snails\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/mexican-turbo-snail-turbo-fluctuosa-saltwater-reef\"\u003eMexican Turbo Snails\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/mexican-red-leg-hermit-crab-clibanarius-digueti-saltwater-reef\"\u003eMexican Red Leg Hermit Crabs\u003c\/a\u003e, and a \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/pincushion-urchin-lytechinus-variegatus-saltwater\"\u003ePincushion Urchin\u003c\/a\u003e, though very small snails may occasionally be caught.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat to avoid.\u003c\/strong\u003e Corals, clams, sponges, tube worms, and anemones are all food, so a reef tank is out. Harlequin shrimp are the reverse problem: they eat sea stars exclusively and will kill this animal arm by arm, so never house the two together. Large angelfish, triggers, and puffers will nip at its arms, and some pufferfish treat a sea star as a chew toy. Other sea stars are also on the menu.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBetter cleanup crew choices for a reef tank.\u003c\/strong\u003e If what you actually want is a working cleanup crew, look at \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/emerald-crab-mithraculus-sculptus-saltwater-reef\"\u003eEmerald Crabs\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/scarlet-skunk-cleaner-shrimp-lysmata-amboinensis-saltwater\"\u003eScarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/peppermint-shrimp-lysmata-sp-saltwater\"\u003ePeppermint Shrimp\u003c\/a\u003e, and snails. All of those are reef safe and none of them will eat your corals.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #D84315;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eRecommended Foods \u0026amp; Supplies\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/ocean-nutrition-frozen-clams-on-the-half-shell\"\u003eFrozen Clams on the Half Shell\u003c\/a\u003e, the simplest way to target feed\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/sfbb-mysis-shrimp-cube-3-5oz\"\u003eSFBB Mysis Shrimp\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/piscine-energetics-pe-mysis\"\u003ePE Mysis\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/ocean-nutrition-frozen-formula-one\"\u003eOcean Nutrition Frozen Formula One\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/milwaukee-ma887-digital-salinity-refractometer\"\u003eMilwaukee MA887 Digital Refractometer\u003c\/a\u003e for the salinity stability this animal needs\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/instant-ocean-reef-crystals-salt-mix\"\u003eInstant Ocean Reef Crystals\u003c\/a\u003e and the rest of our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/collections\/salt-mixes\"\u003esalt mixes\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/caribsea-seaflor-special-grade-reef-sand\"\u003eCaribSea Seaflor Special Grade Sand\u003c\/a\u003e for a proper soft bed\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTest kits from our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/collections\/water-testing\"\u003ewater testing\u003c\/a\u003e shelf to keep nitrates in check\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #D84315;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eFAQ\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I put one in my reef tank?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNo. This is the question we get most and the answer does not have exceptions. It will eat soft corals, LPS, clams, sponges, and tube worms. Some people report getting away with it for a while, which usually just means the star was well fed and had not gotten hungry yet. Keep it in a fish-only or FOWLR system.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy do the chocolate chips vary so much?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe spines differ from animal to animal in number, size, and how dark they are, and some individuals have chips running down the arms while others cluster them near the center. Body color ranges from cream to tan to grey. Every one is a little different, so what arrives will not be identical to the photo.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMine is not moving. Is it dead?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNot necessarily. Sea stars park themselves for long stretches, especially after a meal or a move. Signs of real trouble are different: deflated or shrivelled arms, white patches, tissue that looks like it is dissolving, or a body that has gone limp and floppy. A healthy one is firm, and its tube feet still grip when you look closely.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOne of its arms is damaged. Will it grow back?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eUsually yes, given clean stable water and good feeding. Regeneration is slow, on the order of months, and the new arm often stays shorter and paler than the others. The bigger question is what damaged it, since a nipping tankmate will simply do it again.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow long is acclimation really?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePlan an hour and a half. Float to match temperature, then drip slowly until the volume in your container has at least doubled, and never dump store water into your tank. Rushing this is the most common way these animals are lost, and it is entirely preventable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Squeaky's Aquatics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48228215161051,"sku":"1590097","price":15.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0767\/5209\/3403\/files\/4d856ef3-fe15-4b6d-939e-a4e1bd2896db.png?v=1786713320","url":"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/chocolate-chip-starfish-protoreaster-nodosus-saltwater","provider":"Squeaky's Aquatics","version":"1.0","type":"link"}