Asterinas eating acro

[exnisstech]

I knew some of the asterinas will eat or kill zoas but had no idea some would eat acros. I saw one on one of my acros and I plucked it off and it looks like it had been eating the flesh. Off to get a harlequin shrimp.

 

[fishguy242]

Yes have seen on my blue ridge ,but i think they fall onto somehow ,damaged tissue usually recovers quick.
But yeah , harley is best solution... :)
keep mine in a 18x4x6"suspended isolation box and feed manually 5-8 per day depending on size of stars.

 

[exnisstech]

Yes have seen on my blue ridge ,but i think they fall onto somehow ,damaged tissue usually recovers quick.
But yeah , harley is best solution... :)
keep mine in a 18x4x6"suspended isolation box and feed manually 5-8 per day depending on size of stars.

On it. These are such cool creatures to watch. This guy is eating after being in the acclimation box for 10 minutes. I think I'll add little rubble to give the guy a little better grip. I noticed it slipping on the plastic.

 

[Miami Reef]

It’s a good thing you caught it. Having a mystery acro problem can leave you chasing your tail. I’m glad the solution was simple.

Thanks for the heads up!

 

[fishguy242]

I tried to get you a pic, acrylic too dirty... :rolleyes:tried a blind top down,that went well...;):grinning-face-with-big-eyes:

 

[vetteguy53081]

I knew some of the asterinas will eat or kill zoas but had no idea some would eat acros. I saw one on one of my acros and I plucked it off and it looks like it had been eating the flesh. Off to get a harlequin shrimp.

If there are polyps, they will be there. I despise these stars and suffered issues over a few decades with them. I have zero asterina and all my polyps and coral doing well

 

[PharmrJohn]

Bumblebee Shrimp can work as well. But I'd go Harlequin first. Better chance of success.

 

[VintageReefer]

@taricha
Another type that eats acros

 

[exnisstech]

If there are polyps, they will be there. I despise these stars and suffered issues over a few decades with them. I have zero asterina and all my polyps and coral doing well

Bumblebee Shrimp can work as well. But I'd go Harlequin first. Better chance of success.

 

[fishguy242]

@taricha
Another type that eats acros

It was a white back that did damage to skin on Blue Ridge colony... :)

 

[TangerineSpeedo]

Luckily, I haven't had the type to eat any of my corals and have always been a good part of my CUC. But... the numbers got out of hand and I went with a Harlequin. Now I breed Asterinas in 3 other tanks to feed the starfish eating monster. I still have to buy a CC star and amputate a limb now and then... Am I a normal person anymore...

 

[taricha]

I saw one on one of my acros and I plucked it off and it looks like it had been eating the flesh.

Can we get pics of the alleged offender?

 

[fishguy242]

Can we get pics of the alleged offender?

I will come back here with pics of next one 1 found on Blue ridge, star and bite mark... ;) :)

 

[exnisstech]

Can we get pics of the alleged offender?

If I see another on a coral I'll get a pic. I didn't see any color on the one I plucked off but I didn't take a close look. Speculation on my part but I think they can all become coral eaters and it may not be species specific. I think it may be an acquired taste. They just end up on a coral and decide it tastes good so they eat. Kind of like a reef safe tang that develops a taste for lps after being in a tank for years. I haven't introduced anything new yet all of a sudden these stars that have been in the tank for months start eating coral. I'm going to pretend they can all be coral eaters and treat them as such.

 

[PharmrJohn]

Ohhhhh.....That is Beautiful!

 

[Pjot]

Could it be that the numbers are too high and there is not enough algae to eat?

 

[exnisstech]

Could it be that the numbers are too high and there is not enough algae to eat?

I suppose that's very possible but since I didn't willing add them they've been given an eviction notice. The harlequin is steadily working on them. I've never seen signs of them eating enough algae to be considered useful members of a cuc.