Bo Davidsson, Schweden
Info
Clarkcomanthus alternans (Carpenter, 1881)
Better left in the wild!
The photo of the Clarkcomanthus alternans was taken by Anders Poulson, we would like to thank him for the use of the image.
Apart from a few exceptions, hairstars should not be kept in marine aquaria, as they require a constant supply of phytoplankton and zooplankton and therefore live in zones with strong water movement.
We simply cannot provide this supply without a significant increase in feeding rhythms, and thus also an increase in the load on the reef aquarium.
The animals initially make quite a good impression in the aquarium, but then gradually start to fatten up and die after a few weeks or, if you are lucky, after a few months.
In a pure filter-feeding tank and adapted food, however, things look different.
Hair stars are diurnal and nocturnal and there are both male and female animals.
Hair stars are very sensitive to mechanical contact and disturbance of their environment, they sometimes react with self-mutilation and also shed parts of their arms and cirri.
As the arms and cirri are used to catch plankton, it is very, very difficult for such severely damaged animals to regenerate in the aquarium.
Synonyme:
Actinometra alternans Carpenter, 1881 · unaccepted (basionym)
Actinometra divaricata Carpenter, 1888 · unaccepted (synonym)
Actinometra magnifica P. H. Carpenter, 1888 · unaccepted (synonym)
Comantheria alternans (Carpenter, 1881) · unaccepted (synonym)
Comantheria magnifica (P. H. Carpenter, 1888) · unaccepted (synonym)
Comantheria polycnemis AH Clark, 1912 · unaccepted (synonym)
Comanthus alternans (Carpenter, 1881) · unaccepted (synonym)
Comanthus polycnemis AH Clark, 1909 · unaccepted (synonym)
Better left in the wild!
The photo of the Clarkcomanthus alternans was taken by Anders Poulson, we would like to thank him for the use of the image.
Apart from a few exceptions, hairstars should not be kept in marine aquaria, as they require a constant supply of phytoplankton and zooplankton and therefore live in zones with strong water movement.
We simply cannot provide this supply without a significant increase in feeding rhythms, and thus also an increase in the load on the reef aquarium.
The animals initially make quite a good impression in the aquarium, but then gradually start to fatten up and die after a few weeks or, if you are lucky, after a few months.
In a pure filter-feeding tank and adapted food, however, things look different.
Hair stars are diurnal and nocturnal and there are both male and female animals.
Hair stars are very sensitive to mechanical contact and disturbance of their environment, they sometimes react with self-mutilation and also shed parts of their arms and cirri.
As the arms and cirri are used to catch plankton, it is very, very difficult for such severely damaged animals to regenerate in the aquarium.
Synonyme:
Actinometra alternans Carpenter, 1881 · unaccepted (basionym)
Actinometra divaricata Carpenter, 1888 · unaccepted (synonym)
Actinometra magnifica P. H. Carpenter, 1888 · unaccepted (synonym)
Comantheria alternans (Carpenter, 1881) · unaccepted (synonym)
Comantheria magnifica (P. H. Carpenter, 1888) · unaccepted (synonym)
Comantheria polycnemis AH Clark, 1912 · unaccepted (synonym)
Comanthus alternans (Carpenter, 1881) · unaccepted (synonym)
Comanthus polycnemis AH Clark, 1909 · unaccepted (synonym)
