Red Tile Starfish

Red Tile Starfish: The Delicate Grazer

The Red Tile Starfish (Fromia monilis), also commonly called the Tiled Starfish, Necklace Sea Star, or Peppermint Sea Star, is a visually stunning and delicate echinoderm popular in the marine aquarium hobby. It is recognized for its vibrant coloration, typically a base of bright red, orange, or pink with a distinctive pattern of paler white or cream-colored plates that give it a "tiled" or "beaded" appearance.

Reaching a maximum diameter of about 5-6 inches (12-15 cm), this starfish is a peaceful and beautiful addition to a well-established reef tank. However, it requires a moderate level of care due to its sensitivity and specialized feeding habits.

Care & Habitat Requirements:

• Acclimation: Extremely sensitive to changes in water chemistry, especially salinity, pH, and oxygen levels. A very long and slow drip acclimation of 1 to 2.5 hours is mandatory to prevent fatal shock.
• Handling: Never expose the starfish to air while handling or transferring, as this can trap air bubbles inside its body, which is usually lethal.
• Aquarium Environment: Requires a mature, well-established aquarium (ideally running for a year or more) of at least 30-50 gallons. It needs ample live rock and a sandy or fine gravel substrate, as its primary food source is the biofilm, micro-organisms, and detritus that coat the surfaces of the rockwork.
• Diet: The Red Tile Starfish is an Omnivore/Grazer. Its main diet consists of invisible film algae and micro-organisms. In a home aquarium, supplemental feeding is necessary. Target-feed small pieces of finely chopped meaty foods like shrimp, mussel, clam, or specialized sinking invertebrate pellets a few times a week. It is not a good candidate for solving nuisance algae problems, and tanks with high algae are often an indicator of poor water quality which it does not tolerate.
• Water Quality: Intolerant of high nitrates and copper-based medications. Stability is key; maintain standard reef parameters.
• Reef Compatibility: Reef Safe. It is completely peaceful and will not harm corals, clams, or other invertebrates. It is an excellent scavenger of detritus. Avoid housing with predatory fish like puffers, triggerfish, or Harlequin Shrimp, which may eat it.

Quick Facts

• Scientific Name: Fromia monilis
• Primary Common Name: Red Tile Starfish
• Other Common Names: Tiled Starfish, Necklace Sea Star, Peppermint Sea Star
• Origin: Indo-Pacific (Widespread)
• Max Size: 5-6 inches (12-15 cm)
• Temperament: Peaceful / Grazer
• Diet: Omnivore (Biofilm & Micro-organisms)
• Minimum Tank Size: 50 Gallons (well-established)
• Reef Compatibility: Yes (Safe with all corals)
• Care Level: Moderate (Due to sensitivity and dietary needs)