Harlequin Shrimp, Asterina Stars and Sand Sifter

Sonam · Dec 22, 2014

Hi All,

We have a massive outbreak of Asterina stars. At first they were cute, seemed to eat algae and thus we didn't worry.

Now they are all over everything, rock, corals, even riding around on our hermit crabs.

Too many to remove manually (not likely we can even see them all).

So we ordered a harlequin shrimp.

Is our sand sifting sea star in danger? Anyone have a harlequin long term? What can we feed it once the Asterina are gone (presuming that will happen)?

Looking forward to hearing others advice/experiences!

zesty · Dec 22, 2014

From what I've read, almost any sand sifting sea star is not safe long term in a reef tank. However, I don't have personal experience with that.

But your Harlequin will be happy to have a big buffet and prime rib waiting for it when you add him. AKA, Yes, he will eat your sand sifter.

Once everything is gone, chocolate chip stars seem to be the favorite among reefers, probably because they're the cheapest.

Steven@ · Dec 22, 2014

he will devour the sand sifting star at some point... if you want you can cut off a arm of the SS and feed it to HS in a attempt to appease it, but long term it will most likely get it anyway. Remove the SS until the AS are gone then remove the HQ and put the SS back in. the HS is going to get any cleaner or peppermint shrimp and snails too.

Sonam · Dec 22, 2014

Very helpful advice! Thank you.

Mustang Man · Dec 23, 2014

Harlequin shrimp are only going to eat starfish so after your asterinas and sand sifter are eaten you are going to have to keep buying starfish to feed them.

DaveMorris · Dec 23, 2014

I have never seen my harlequin go after snails, hermits, cleaner shrimp or other shrimp. With an outbreak of austereness as bad as you say, your sand sifter would probably be safe for a while. Eventually it will have a target on its back. Chocolate chip stars are the food of choice once the austereness are gone.

Finnaddict · Dec 23, 2014

I have had HS In my DT before. It did a great job on the Asterina and never messed with anything other than starfish. And CC stars are not reef safe.

Sonam · Dec 23, 2014

Well, here he is.

ImageUploadedByREEF2REEF1419373277.279499.jpg

Hoping he does well and everyone in the tank can stay happy...

Not sure what we will do once the Asterina are gone, but with what we have in the tank now I suspect we have quite a while to ponder the question.

Anyone had any luck with feeding frozen starfish pieces?

Tchung23 · Apr 4, 2025

Steven@ said:
he will devour the sand sifting star at some point... if you want you can cut off a arm of the SS and feed it to HS in a attempt to appease it, but long term it will most likely get it anyway. Remove the SS until the AS are gone then remove the HQ and put the SS back in. the HS is going to get any cleaner or peppermint shrimp and snails too.

I didn’t think HS ate any other thing than star fish