Tiled Starfish (Fromia Monilis)

The Tiled Starfish, also known as the Necklace Starfish, is a beautiful and hardy addition to reef tanks. Its bright red body is adorned with contrasting, tile-like white and black markings, giving it a striking and unique appearance. Peaceful and reef-safe, this starfish is an excellent choice for established aquariums with plenty of live rock for grazing. However, the Tiled Starfish requires stable water conditions and a mature tank to thrive.

Care Information

• Maximum Size: Up to 6 inches in diameter.
• Tank Size: 30 gallons minimum; prefers a well-established tank with live rock and a sandy substrate for grazing.
• Diet: Omnivorous; primarily grazes on biofilm, algae, and detritus. It may also accept supplemental feedings of algae wafers or finely chopped meaty foods like mysis shrimp, especially in tanks with limited natural food.
• Water Temp: 72-78°F.
• Salinity: 1.023-1.025.
• Aggression: Peaceful; the Tiled Starfish is non-aggressive and compatible with a variety of tankmates, including fish, corals, and other invertebrates.
• Skill Level: Intermediate; this starfish requires a mature, stable environment with sufficient biofilm and microfauna on rocks for grazing.
• Reef Compatibility: Reef-safe; does not harm corals or other invertebrates, making it ideal for peaceful reef tanks.

Special Requirement - Stable Environment
The Tiled Starfish is sensitive to changes in water quality and requires a mature, stable tank with plenty of live rock for grazing. Regular monitoring of water parameters is essential to ensure a long, healthy life for this starfish.

Compatibility
This starfish is peaceful and compatible with a wide variety of tankmates, including other reef-safe invertebrates and fish. It is an excellent addition to reef setups due to its algae-grazing habits and beautiful, tile-like pattern.

Coloration

• Indo-Pacific Region: The Tiled Starfish features a bright red body with intricate, white, and black markings resembling tiles, adding a unique and eye-catching design to the aquarium​.

Typical Habitat

• Distribution: Native to the Indo-Pacific, commonly found on rocky reefs where it grazes on algae and detritus. In aquariums, it prefers stable, well-established setups with plenty of live rock for natural foraging.