Asterina star caught in the act!

[FishNerdVlogsYT]

So i checked on the tank this morning to find this HUGE asterina star covering one of my zoas with his stomach out and everything. I heard only 2 in like 400 species eat coral so did i just get super unlucky!? Considering renting a harlequin shrimp to wipe them out...

Ps. You can see how its still curled up from chowing on my coral. When its open it is at least the size of a penny.

 

[Reefpuck]

I'm no expert...but curious as well. Looks bigger to me than a typical asterina starfish though.

 

[happyhourhero]

Ime they eat zoas. I much prefer a tank without them.

 

[DharkaronReef]

I had 50+ asterina starfishes in my reef tank and they would crawl all over my zoas and disrupt their growth. Now, I pick them off one by one and move them to my sump.

 

[andrewkw]

100% they eat zoas and palys. I am trying to figure out if they will eat all or only certain kinds see https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/t...-my-zoas-and-palys.555362/page-2#post-5727580

In my in tank experience they certainly prefer certain types. I have 100 stars of various sizes in the container with different types of zoas and palys. I suspect it's only certain starfish but not necessarily certain species doing the eating as it's very difficult to ID different species. I have 1000s and 1000s of them in my main display and I am in the process of thinning them out. The sad thing is they do a good job of eating coraline and other algae, but for whatever reason they will turn to coral, either because there isn't enough food or they like it better.

 

[DSC reef]

Definitely had the ones that loved to eat zoas. Even got one with the actual color of the zoa in its mouth.

 

[littlebigreef]

They eat zoas plain and simple. Everything in your aquarium is opportunistic when it comes to food. Buying a pair of Harlequins was the best investment I ever made for my zoa garden.

 

[happyhourhero]

They eat zoas plain and simple. Everything in your aquarium is opportunistic when it comes to food. Buying a pair of Harlequins was the best investment I ever made for my zoa garden.

I too have a pair but mine are same sex as they each cover half the tank and are never together.

 

[JReefaddict]

They all eat coral ime, I had a bad problem with those a couple years ago. I put a harlequin in and let him go to town

 

[Chad Chapman]

Harlequins do the job for sure. I lost many zoas before I figured out what it was.

 

[acro-ed]

I wish I knew more about the different types of Asterina stars. I've had them for years and have never seen them eat the zoas or any other coral.

 

[saltyhog]

Had them for many years and never had a problem with them. I see one occasionally crawling across a zoa colony but never any damage. Guess I've been lucky.

 

[JVU]

So i checked on the tank this morning to find this HUGE asterina star covering one of my zoas with his stomach out and everything. I heard only 2 in like 400 species eat coral so did i just get super unlucky!? Considering renting a harlequin shrimp to wipe them out...

Ps. You can see how its still curled up from chowing on my coral. When its open it is at least the size of a penny.

Did you by chance take a pic of the top of the star caught in the act so we can see the markings?

 

[FishNerdVlogsYT]

Did you by chance take a pic of the top of the star caught in the act so we can see the markings?

That I did

 

[FishNerdVlogsYT]

Got a new weapon in this fight yesterday! When he eats all the stars ill take him back to the lfs i work at.

 

[Rakie]

The problem is there's a bunch of species of little stars, and they are given a blanket name -- "Asterina".

I have metric tons of asterina stars. They don't touch my corals. SPS, LPS, Softies, 100% safe.

 

[paraletho]

That I did

Yep that is one of the dark ones

 

[FishNerdVlogsYT]

The problem is there's a bunch of species of little stars, and they are given a blanket name -- "Asterina".

I have metric tons of asterina stars. They don't touch my corals. SPS, LPS, Softies, 100% safe.

Thats what i thought too till he decided to start chowing down on my zoas! I hear if there’s a lack of algae they’ll turn to coral.

 

[vetteguy53081]

That's a big one. I have a harlequin in 2 0f 3 tanks.

I never liked these things, IMO, a good one is a dried up one. I just DONT trust them

 

[JohnMzreef]

I'm pretty sure they make "lawnmower tracks" in my leptoseris. I remove them when I can..