Asterina Starfish

[Mm16]

I have tons of asterina starfish in my tank. Are they good/bad? They seem to multiply I lost a bunch of zoas, not sure it a coincidence or not.

 

[KJ]

Asterina sp.
Microstar, Ministar

Suitability: Watch them!

Diet: Micro/film algae. Some varities rumored
to eat corals.

Remarks: Read More!

 

[Reefing Madness]

I've got hundreds in my tank, I don't have any issues with them

 

[SeahorseKeeper]

Many people have stated that they have lost zoas to them. I wouldn't be surprised if they contributed to your zoa loss. However, I never had issues with them.

 

[timkenagy]

I've had them munch on some zoas from time to time. Nothing that I would call devastating (they have devastated frags so I pick them out of my frag tank) but my wife likes them so I let them have at it in the display :)

 

[MikeyAl]

I've got hundreds in my tank, I don't have any issues with them

Ditto. I have tons and never had problems.

 

[MikeyAl]

If you're concerned just siphon them out.

 

[Baby Ray]

I have never had any problems with them. I think that they sometimes eat died or dying zoa's and they are immediately framed as the culprit ;)

 

[Mark3]

I knew I had Asterina Starfish, but didn't realize how many until today..... I finally got a harlequin shrimp yesterday, and this morning there is a mass evacuation of stars on the glass....it is amazing to see them running for high ground. The shrimp is very small, about the size of a dime, in a 125 gallon tank with 40 gallon sump, but the stars know he is there! ... they are running like their house is on fire. I haven't seen him go for any of the stars yet,... at one point a star was only about 1/4 inch away from him, no action, ... but he has only been in the tank less than 24 hours. The stars are just oozing out of everywhere...I have counted over 100 in just a small area of the tank...I'm guessing I have about 1000 stars, should give him enough to eat for awhile.

Easy way to get rid of Asterina Starfish would be to drop in a Harlequin shrimp and then just clean off the glass after all the stars climb to the top.

 

[MikeyAl]

You can add a harlequin but after all your starfish are gone , it may starve out.

 

[Mark3]

I was thinking that maybe I should take a couple hundred of the stars from the glass while they are easy to get, and move them to the sump for future feeding. I will need to add chocolate chip stars for the harlequin in the future...but will cross that bridge when it comes.

 

[MikeyAl]

I was thinking that maybe I should take a couple hundred of the stars from the glass while they are easy to get, and move them to the sump for future feeding. I will need to add chocolate chip stars for the harlequin in the future...but will cross that bridge when it comes.

Do not add a choc chip star. Personally screwed up and added on years ago only to see him all over my palys and zoas.

 

[Lionfish Lair]

Dang @Mark3! That's a lot!

 

[Mark3]

he would be added for food for the harlequin...not to live in the tank

 

[Mark3]

yea...the thing is, until I put the Harlequin in, you would see about 2 up to maybe 6 stars on the glass. Put him in yesterday and the stars are coming on the run to climb out of the tank. They can smell the enemy I guess? They are exiting the rocks like crazy...I knew I had them, but didn't know HOW MANY I had until now.

 

[Wiz]

I have a ton too. Sont bother anything

 

[Mark3]

What I noticed, was the purple on my rocks was disappearing, so I watched... first thought it was emerald crabs...they picked at it some and maybe part of the problem, but noticed the stars looked as they were taking away the purple. I really noticed it when looking at some old photos, rocks were covered with coraline algae, solid purple and now they have lost much of their purple....it might still be another reason than the stars, but we will see after their numbers have been decreased. I don't think my tank is as healthy as it was 6 months ago. Trying to change things to get better, and sometimes is gets worse.

 

[Wiz]

Mine do eat coraline. But not nearly fast enough to cause an issue.

 

[Lionfish Lair]

The coralline is the only reason I don't keep them. It looked like my rock had white chicken pox.

 

[jamie callard]

I will take some

I was thinking that maybe I should take a couple hundred of the stars from the glass while they are easy to get, and move them to the sump for future feeding. I will need to add chocolate chip stars for the harlequin in the future...but will cross that bridge when it comes.

I will take some from you for my shrimp. So i dont have to spend money on the chocolate chips every month