Hitch Hike

bumperbeetle · Jun 15, 2015

Howdy All!
So I picked up a LF from one of the LFS suppliers that I frequent about a week ago and noticed today that I apparently managed to bring a hitch hiker along as well. It appears to be a small starfish. Ive never seen them this small so I was hoping on getting some advise as to whether or not to pluck him. At the moment, I have no coral in my tank...just some polyps and shrooms and I will be adding a Shermon Rose Anemone next week. My fish stock is cautiously reef safe. Thanks in advance!

143MPCo · Jun 15, 2015

Asterinea Starfish, not all are pest some are ok and are coraline algae eaters but, some are not, they can all grow to plague proportions.

PostShawn · Jun 17, 2015

You will hear some differing answers to this. Some say good some say bad. In my experience I haven't seen mine that look like yours eat any corals. They fluctuate reproducing or at least coming out. Sometimes I can see over a dozen and sometimes only a couple. A lot of people say the darker colored ones are the coral eaters. I'm not sure if there is an exact scientific or proven answer to the "is it good or bad" question on these guys. So basically just keep an eye out. If they don't seem to overtake corals or do damage then don't worry. If you are worried you can take that one out but you probably already have more.

dbl · Jun 17, 2015

I too have read they are hit or miss. My own recent experience was they were a miss! My zoa garden has not been very happy, so I started looking in the evenings and noticed quite a few of these little guys all over the zoas. I decided to start picking them out whenever I see them. Zoa's are starting to open again. Obviously just one person's experience, so take it for what it's worth.