Not something you see everyday...

gflat65 · #1 01/05/2008, 07:12 PM

I'm still in an ethical wrestling match for even having purchased this, but my pretzel logic to support my decision is that it is better for me to have one then someone who might release it in the Caribbean inadvertently. Not solid logic, but it worked for me at the time...

I was in Gulfport for Christmas and had to visit the two stores down there (one in Gulfport, one in Biloxi). I started in Biloxi (furthest out). They were pretty well picked over. Then I looked down at a lower tank and kinda shivered from what I saw. I looked at it for a few minutes and knew it was a crown of thorns star, but couldn't believe I was seeing one for sale (or in person for that matter). I decided to grab one... The store owner said his hand went numb when he handled the starfish, so I decided not to try that experience. It was looking pretty bad for a while, but has come around and is munching on some excess monti cap. I hope it likes it, because I don't have any other sps that grow that fast... May be looking for some AEFW acros soon

. So far, it's only eaten small bits at a time. I think it will turn on softies and anemones if the conditions are right (plenty of tulips to go around

).

ct_vol · #2 01/05/2008, 07:35 PM

Don't they get rediculously huge??? They also color up pretty nice once they're bigger... I'm thinking they get 14-16" in diameter at least... Interesting find to say the least... Don't feed it too much...

NeveSSL · #3 01/05/2008, 07:56 PM

WOW... thats crazy!

Are these the ones plaguing the Great Barrier Reef?

Brandon

rcmike · #4 01/05/2008, 08:20 PM

I don't normally support too many restrictions but that is one starfish we shouldn't be importing. I understand your moral delima on that one but the sad truth is he will probably just order another one. If someone let some of those go down there it could be very bad. Very interesting though. I hope you have good luck with him. Just don't let him go when he gets too big.

gflat65 · #5 01/05/2008, 08:35 PM

I feel the same, Mike. I sent a note to CITES about just that, but haven't heard back. They should be illegal to export... When it gets too big, I'll put it in the pool

. I've always wanted a big FO, so hopefully it'll grow slow...

fishdoc11 · #6 01/05/2008, 09:12 PM

Your a nut Gary

Those things give me the heebie jeebies

Freed · #7 01/05/2008, 09:20 PM

WOW is all I can say. Not a good wow but a horrified wow that the LFS has the balls to even buy, order or even have it in his posession or even sell it for that matter. ANYONE importing, exporting or selling that should be shut down, seriously. Anyone, besides you obviously, could release that into waters where it could multiply by the thousands and do major damage to the ecosystems permanently.

And yes they are venomous.

brickbreaker33 · #8 01/06/2008, 12:18 PM

I just saw that show on discovery HD. That's terrifying that they could end up in the carribean that easily. just wow.

gflat65 · #9 01/10/2008, 10:19 PM

I decided to take some pictures of the devil since it is out and eating these days. Kinda feel sorry for the Monti... Plenty more to go around, though.

Fanof49ASU · #10 01/10/2008, 11:06 PM

Trying to read up on this critter. Found this on wikipedia.

Quote:

They are voracious predators that can wipe out large areas of coral; an individual can consume up to 6 square meters of living reef per year.[

You might want to add another tank.

eyebedam · #11 01/10/2008, 11:11 PM

Don,t make Jen mad or that bad boy may end up in your display.

Fanof49ASU · #12 01/10/2008, 11:19 PM

Quote:

The crown of thorns can grow from the size of a grain of sand to the size of a dinner plate. An exceptionally large crown of thorns can grow to be the size of a car tire. Divers kill these predators by injecting the starfish's own stomach acid into each of their many legs. If even one leg is missed the sea star can live on.

What I don't understand is why the divers inject each leg.........wouldn't it be easier to take it out of water?

Freed · #13 01/10/2008, 11:28 PM

They've tried that before but it was a losing battle. I can't remember what the reasoning was but I think it cost alot more to cart them to the mainland and bury them or something like that. Not for sure.

eyebedam · #14 01/10/2008, 11:56 PM

Not to sound extremly negative or unusually cruel but if your gonna kill them anyway why bury them? Getem to the mainland start a bonfire & burn baby burn. Broken tree limbs dont cost anything Im sure theres plenty of brush laying aroung And some matches. I now Im gonna get some funky feedback on this.