About Indian Sea Star
Indian sea star — vivid red, slow-moving, and pretty. Like most sea stars, it's a slow declining specialist that depends on biofilm and detritus from a mature sand bed. Only attempt in established systems (1+ year old).
Fromia indica, commonly called Indian sea star or red starfish, is a species of marine starfish belonging to the family Goniasteridae.
Notes from the editors
What it looks like. Vivid red five-armed sea star, often with darker red mottling. Adult diameter ~3 inches.
In your tank. Slow-moving and visually striking, but depends on biofilm and detritus from a mature sand bed. Most specimens slowly decline over 6–12 months due to undetected nutritional deficits.
Care notes. Only attempt in established systems (1+ year old). Reef-safe and peaceful. Acclimate slowly with a 2+ hour drip — sea stars are extremely sensitive to salinity swings.
Sourcing and feeding. Wild-collected from Indo-Pacific reefs; mid-priced ($20–40). Detritivore — biofilm, leftover meaty foods, target-fed pieces of shrimp.
Care info is a starting point, not a guarantee. Individual specimens, water chemistry, and tankmate dynamics vary. Verify against multiple sources and adjust to what you observe. See our terms & disclaimers.
Related invertebrates
Sources & attribution
- Taxonomy and accepted name from the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS AphiaID 368952).
- Description content adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Photo: (c) cello caruso-turiello, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY (via iNaturalist or Wikimedia Commons).