Common name: Giant Basket Star

General information

The Basket Star, scientifically known as Astrophyton muricatum, is a fascinating echinoderm that belongs to the class Ophiuroidea. These invertebrates are known for their intricate and highly branched arms, which they use for suspension feeding in the water column. Basket stars are nocturnal creatures, extending their arms at night to capture plankton and small organisms with their tiny hook-like structures.

Care

Basket stars require a specialized care regimen due to their unique feeding habits and sensitivity to water quality. They thrive in well-established aquariums with strong water flow and low light conditions, mimicking their natural deep-water habitats. It's crucial to provide a varied diet of planktonic foods, and hobbyists may need to target feed to ensure the basket star receives adequate nutrition.

Reproduction

Reproduction in basket stars is not commonly observed in home aquariums. In the wild, they reproduce both sexually, by releasing gametes into the water column, and asexually, through arm fragmentation followed by regeneration. This process is complex and requires stable environmental conditions to be successful.

Habitat

Astrophyton muricatum is typically found in deep reef environments, often attached to gorgonians or other structures that allow them to extend their arms into the water column for feeding. They are distributed in the tropical and subtropical regions of the Atlantic Ocean, including the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico.