Hi all, I just set up my nano reef tank a week ago and found this starfish on my snail’s back. I don’t know if this is good or bad... Also my other snail has a cracked shell and I don’t know what caused it. Any ideas?
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Not that they breed or multiply. What actually happens is you get one as hitchhiker, they break off a leg that becomes another one. They both break off a leg and now there’s 4 and they too do the same and so forthI would remove the starfish and trash it. I started with zero. Now every morning I pic out 10-15 and trash them. They were eating my coraline and Zoas.
Looks like:
Asterina starfish do multiply very fast and get out of control pretty rapidly. Although some people get lucky for years. Do not be tricked, they are not your friends! Not only do they become a nuisance but they also can start attacking coralline algae, polyps, and corals or simply irritating them.
took it out immediately ahaha. So scary!!!Exactly, mine get chopped up in my wave makers. Then one becomes 4!
You just got started and already critters!!!took it out immediately ahaha. So scary!!!
I removed mine immediately! I got so scared!! HAHANot that they breed or multiply. What actually happens is you get one as hitchhiker, they break off a leg that becomes another one. They both break off a leg and now there’s 4 and they too do the same and so forth
That's right!! Thank you for the article I appreciate it!You just got started and already critters!!!
Wasn't it just a couple days ago I was welcoming you!!!???
Medical school, right? Here's a link for info on the Asterina Starfish. Probably required reading at some point in your educational process. Might as well get a head start!
That's what I'm getting too. I thought it better to take it out just in case it could cause future problems. But same- I agree with the conflicting informationThe more you read about them the more you'll see conflicting information. I think the truth is that some can be bad, some can be a great part of the clean up crew and overall biome. I had hundreds in my tank and got convinced they were harassing my zoas. Two Harlequin shrimp wiped them all out in about 6 weeks. Can't say I've noticed any beneficial result. In fact I wonder if a brown algae outbreak may have been the only notable result.