The Indian Sea Star is a species of marine starfish. Its scientific name is Fromia indica.
This starfish is also known as the Red Starfish. It belongs to the Goniasteridae family.
What Does the Indian Sea Star Look Like?
When it’s young, the Indian Sea Star is a bright red color with black tips. However, not all of them have black tips.
As Indian Sea Stars grow older, they become a duller shade of red. Some people say they are ‘red with a fine black mesh of interlinked lines’.
This unique pattern sets them apart from their sister species, the black-spotted Fromia milleporella.
The Indian Sea Star usually has five arms, which are also called rays. But sometimes, they grow a sixth arm while they’re regrowing parts of their body.
Where Can You Find the Indian Sea Star?
The Indian Sea Star lives in the Indian Ocean and Western Pacific. You can find them as far west as the Andaman Islands and Sri Lanka and as far east as the Fiji Islands.
Indian Sea Stars also live as far north as Japan and as far south as Australia. The habitat range of latitudes they live in is between -23.5 and 18.85 degrees, while the range of longitudes is between -162 and 178.53 degrees.
Indian Sea Stars are often imported for the fish trade via Sri Lanka.
What Is the Habitat of The Indian Sea Star?
The Indian Sea Stars live in lagoons and outer reefs. They can survive on all kinds of surfaces, as long as the temperature is between 75°F and 83°F.
These starfish can be found at different depths, from as shallow as 1.5 meters to as deep as 25 meters.
What Does the Indian Sea Star Eat?
The Indian Sea Star eats detritus, which is waste from dead plants and animals. They also eat microalgae, small benthic invertebrates, and other organic matter.
Sometimes, Indian Sea Stars even eat fish that are weak and about to die.
How to Care for The Indian Sea Star in An Aquarium?
The Indian Sea Star is safe for reef aquariums. You can feed them small pieces or pellets of seafood like shrimp or scallops. But, they’re not easy to take care of.
Indian Sea Stars are very sensitive to changes in the water’s chemistry. They can become sick and die quickly if they’re handled roughly, not acclimated properly, or starved.
What Is Fromia elegans?
Fromia elegans is another species of sea star. It’s also known as the Little Red Star. It was first described by H. L. Clark in 1921.
In 1938, a man named Engel collected some sea stars he thought were Fromia elegans. But later, a scientist named Hayashi studied Engel’s sea stars and found they were actually Indian Sea Stars.
In 1971, another scientist named A. M. Clark thought there were enough differences between some Indian Sea Stars and Fromia elegans to consider them separate species.
But in 1977, a scientist named Marsh doubted this, even though she didn’t have proof.
Today, Engel’s description is thought to be a synonym, or another name, for the Indian Sea Star.
Clark’s description is accepted as a separate species.
Indian Sea Star Characteristics
| Reef Safe? | Yes |
| Care Level: | Moderate |
| Maximum Size: | 7.5 cm (3.0 in) |
Scientific Classification
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Echinodermata |
| Class: | Asteroidea |
| Order: | Valvatida |
| Family: | Goniasteridae |
| Genus: | Fromia |
| Scientific Name: | Fromia indica |
| Also Known As: | Indian Sea Star, Red Starfish |
| Conservation Status: | Unknown |