Common starfish (Asterias rubens) care guide

Group
Other invertebrates
Other names
Common sea star, Sugar starfish, Common European starfish
Family
Asteriidae
Origin
North-east Atlantic from Norway and Sweden through the North Sea and around Britain south to Portugal and Senegal
Water
saltwater
Maximum size
52 cm
Care level
intermediate
Reef safe
no
Lifespan
7–8 years

Care

The common starfish is the familiar five-armed starfish of British shores and shallow seas, usually orange or brick red on top and paler below, sometimes purple, violet or pale brown. Most are 10–30 cm across, with the largest about 52 cm. It lives on rock and gravel, and animals from deeper water are paler. UK native: this animal is native to Britain. It needs a coldwater (unheated) marine tank, kept cool in summer, and should not be collected from the wild where that is not allowed; check local byelaws and site rules first. Set-up: a large, cool marine tank with rock, gravel and strong filtration. It tolerates slightly brackish water but not warmth, so it is not suited to a tropical reef. It has a keen sense of smell for food and can detect and flee the predatory common sunstar. Use as food: it is sometimes bought as live food for harlequin shrimp; LiveAquaria notes that adult harlequins are usually fed this species. Copper: copper-based medicines and some plant fertilisers are toxic to shrimp, snails and most other invertebrates. Never dose them in a tank holding this animal, and read the label of any treatment, fertiliser or algae remover before use. Sources: Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asteriasrubens); LiveAquaria (liveaquaria.com/products/harlequin-shrimp). Checked October 2026.

Diet

A predator and scavenger of mussels and other bivalves, worms, barnacles, snails, other echinoderms and carrion. It opens a mussel by pulling the shells apart with its tube feet; a gap of about 1 mm lets it push its stomach inside and digest the mussel in its shell. In a tank feed live or fresh mussels, cockles and pieces of fish or prawn. It can survive months of starvation, so a starving star may not look ill for some time.

Breeding

Sexes are separate. In spring females release eggs, about 2.5 million for a medium-sized star, which are fertilised in the water. The larvae drift in the plankton for about 87 days before settling as tiny stars. Not bred in home aquariums.

Compatibility and tank mates

Not reef safe and not compatible with shellfish, snails, barnacles, urchins or other starfish. Keep with native fish and anemones that it cannot catch.

Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.

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