Colored Phataria Sea Star

The Colored Phataria Sea Star (Phataria unifascialis) is a peaceful invertebrate species that is generally considered reef-safe with caution, admired for its vibrant coloration, striking patterns, relatively large size, and unique star-shaped body with flexible arms.

Males and females are visually similar, though juveniles tend to be smaller and less vividly colored. They reach about 8–12 inches in diameter and should be housed in aquariums of at least 50 gallons. They thrive in setups with a deep sandbed, live rock for grazing and exploring, and open swimming space, along with stable water parameters (salinity ~1.020–1.025, temperature ~72–79°F, pH ~8.1–8.4) and a secure lid since starfish can occasionally move or climb out of tanks. Their diet should consist of small meaty foods like mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, copepods, and detritus, and with proper care, the Colored Phataria Sea Star makes a stunning and peaceful addition to a marine aquarium.

International Aquatics Quarantine & Guarantee: All fish are checked by marine vets, given a formalin bath, and held for 14 days in copper-treated systems. We feed Selcon-soaked food with Kanaplex and Metroplex during quarantine. Unless marked, all livestock comes with our 15-Day Guarantee. You will receive a video of your fish eating before shipment. On request, we also send photos/videos after arrival at IA. Some species are import-to-order (3-10 business days). Many common species are already cleared or near the end of QT.

Several species will be import-to-order and may take anywhere from 3-10 business days to secure. Once your fish is secured, you will be notified, and the quarantine process will then begin.