Chocolate Chip Starfish (Protoreaster nodosus)

Protoreaster nodosus gets its name from the dark, dome-shaped ossicles studding its back — hardened calcium carbonate structures built into the skin rather than anything actually edible, despite how much the pattern looks like it belongs on a cookie. It's one of the hardiest, most beginner-friendly starfish in the trade, but it's also a legitimate predator of soft coral and small invertebrates, which knocks it out of contention for a true reef tank.

Care level: Easy · Temperament: Peaceful to fish, predatory to soft coral/inverts · Max size: ~10" arm span · Min tank: 30 gal · Reef safe: No · Diet: Omnivore, scavenger + soft coral