Id please??

[catbil]

I have 2 of these on my live rock. They move around. They are a little smaller than the size of your fingernail. Thanks in advance.

 

[Tahoe61]

It's as Asterina starfish, most are harmless algae eaters. Occasionally you get zoanthid and coral eaters. The most common problem is over abundance, the population can get out of control.

 

[Reefing Madness]

That one appearz to be the killer colored type. Id snatch thkse babies outta there.

 

[Dalmatia]

Agreed

 

[Dalmatia]

Asterina only bugged my zoas, never seen any eaten,,, but they do make them unhappy and stay closed for a period of time?

 

[Tahoe61]

Asterina only bugged my zoas, never seen any eaten,,, but they do make them unhappy and stay closed for a period of time?

No some types will happily graze on zoanthids. I had a large rock covered in a so so green zoanthid, I liked the Asterina so much I just let it munch until all the zoanthids were gone.

 

[Naiad]

I unfortunately have the zoa eaters. I believe it is a specific species as I have several "groups" that look and act different. Only one of these groups I have ever caught eating coral. That one does have the splotchy markings that the group with the zoa eaters has so be careful. The ones that are a single solid color have never hurt any coral. I know this a far from scientific approach to these critters but it is my experience. I am sure that not all the splotchy stars are the same species that eats coral, it is just their misfortune to share that characteristic with the ones that do.

 

[Dalmatia]

No some types will happily graze on zoanthids. I had a large rock covered in a so so green zoanthid, I liked the Asterina so much I just let it munch until all the zoanthids were gone.

Personally I jus check them in the toilet, wish I still had a pic of what I thought of them lol, just a pic of me chucking it into a fresh batch of toilet water :)

 

[Dalmatia]

Any asterina starfish,,, they all look the same to me, bit of colour??? Who cares! It's garbage for the home aquarist, unless you study them for some strange reason

 

[Tahoe61]

Any asterina starfish,,, they all look the same to me, bit of colour??? Who cares! It's garbage for the home aquarist, unless you study them for some strange reason

I do not get rid of bristle worms either, diversity in my tank makes me happy. If a hitch-hiker is not chomping on my corals or eating my fish it can stay no matter how ugly it is.

As for Asterina, there are hundreds of different types, even marine biologist have difficulty telling one type from the other. Generalization can be made but not with any certainty. You can not take into account the invert that becomes an opportunistic feeder in the absence of it's routine food type.

Good link:
Reefkeeping Magazine - Reefkeeping 101

 

[Reefing Madness]

No some types will happily graze on zoanthids. I had a large rock covered in a so so green zoanthid, I liked the Asterina so much I just let it munch until all the zoanthids were gone.

WOW. Brave one you are.

 

[Reefing Madness]

I do not get rid of bristle worms either, diversity in my tank makes me happy. If a hitch-hiker is not chomping on my corals or eating my fish it can stay no matter how ugly it is.

As for Asterina, there are hundreds of different types, even marine biologist have difficulty telling one type from the other. Generalization can be made but not with any certainty. You can not take into account the invert that becomes an opportunistic feeder in the absence of it's routine food type.

Good link:
Reefkeeping Magazine - Reefkeeping 101

Agreed!!

 

[Tahoe61]

WOW. Brave one you are.

They were so so green, if they had been Rastas, well that Asterina would have starved to death. :boxing:

 

[Dalmatia]

I do not get rid of bristle worms either, diversity in my tank makes me happy. If a hitch-hiker is not chomping on my corals or eating my fish it can stay no matter how ugly it is.

As for Asterina, there are hundreds of different types, even marine biologist have difficulty telling one type from the other. Generalization can be made but not with any certainty. You can not take into account the invert that becomes an opportunistic feeder in the absence of it's routine food type.

Good link:
Reefkeeping Magazine - Reefkeeping 101

As long as it's not eating my corals or bothering them, I don't see a reason to get rid of. The stuff I know bugs my corals and I didn't buy,,, have no place in my aquarium and never will