Is the marine specialist guy at my lfs dumb?
- Thread starter Beta reefs.
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Spare time
10K Club member
Are you sure they eat coral? If those even exist (as I'm not sure as I've never encountered anyone online or in person who even knows of someone who had them), they are incredibly rare.
Yeah, I agree. The acro eating ones seem to be more folklore.
There once was a time when those were a welcomed sight in reef aquariums. The only problem is that they get out of hand by multiplying.
There once was a time when those were a welcomed sight in reef aquariums. The only problem is that they get out of hand by multiplying.
blecki
Well-Known Member
I have had these guys forever, even tried a harlequin to get rid of them.
a) I have seen them eat zoas - but they only seem to go after ones that are already doing poorly. I have vast colonies of zoas that remain completely untouched.
b) Harlequin shrimp was not interested in them.
c) They don't seem to self regulate the way brittle stars or bristle worms do. They explode... and then die en masse of starvation. Then explode again... and die again...
d) I remember I used to care about scraping them off the glass - as in, I'd scrape around them, leave em alone. Now I just knock em off. Still dodge the limpets though.
a) I have seen them eat zoas - but they only seem to go after ones that are already doing poorly. I have vast colonies of zoas that remain completely untouched.
b) Harlequin shrimp was not interested in them.
c) They don't seem to self regulate the way brittle stars or bristle worms do. They explode... and then die en masse of starvation. Then explode again... and die again...
d) I remember I used to care about scraping them off the glass - as in, I'd scrape around them, leave em alone. Now I just knock em off. Still dodge the limpets though.
I mean I always get multiple opinions (because that’s what advice is in this hobby) and I also do my own research. Have you noticed corals that looked eaten from said starfish?
What type of advice are you seeking? Maybe don’t ask him about hitchhikers but if the corals look otherwise healthy ask about water parameters and lighting…
do they have a display tank?
Is he responsible for all the upkeep of the corals?
Maybe he is a fish expert?
There is maybe 1 or 2 people at my main LFS that I will ask for advice from - and it’s not the owner who knows his stuff but he acts like he is better than everyone else. I always seek to gain as many other people’s perspective and advice before I make decisions
What type of advice are you seeking? Maybe don’t ask him about hitchhikers but if the corals look otherwise healthy ask about water parameters and lighting…
do they have a display tank?
Is he responsible for all the upkeep of the corals?
Maybe he is a fish expert?
There is maybe 1 or 2 people at my main LFS that I will ask for advice from - and it’s not the owner who knows his stuff but he acts like he is better than everyone else. I always seek to gain as many other people’s perspective and advice before I make decisions
There are starfish that are known for eating soft corals - specifically zoas I believe. I’ve heard stories - here and other places. If it’s an issue I’d be hand plucking those bad boys out. I have had some in the past but didn’t have an issue. I noticed one on a zoa - and I was like the claw machine and plucked a lucky winner for removal to the trash!
VintageReefer
2500 Club Member
Those little starfish absolutely eat coral. I bought a 25 polyp colony of exosphere and they started vanishing one by one. I started trying to track their loss with photos looking for clues or signs of disease. I noticed those starfish in a few pics and wondered if it was the harmless starfish I’ve kept in every tank.
Well it was!! They were munching on them! Seems they only like certain zoanthids. Expensive ones.
Well it was!! They were munching on them! Seems they only like certain zoanthids. Expensive ones.
VintageReefer
2500 Club Member
It doesn’t have to be doing poorly. From my experience they choose for other reasons. Maybe taste. I don’t know
Exosphere’s vanishing - losing colony need help
No idea here everyone Bought a colony of 25 heads of exosphere. Looked very healthy. Within a few days I was down to 15. Looked like all the lower and smaller ones melted and turned to mush. I dipped it in revive and coral rx and gave a light scrubbing with a soft brush and got all the mush...
www.reef2reef.com
blecki
Well-Known Member
I can't see any in those pictures but regardless... just because it looks fine to you doesn't mean the coral is healthy. So, is it dying because the starfish are eating it - or are the starfish eating it because it's dying?
livinlifeinBKK
5000 Club Member
What kind of advice are you asking him for? If it's a particularly scientific or highly debated topic you have a question about I would do my own research in addition to asking him. If it's somewhat simple advice you need and he has experience, I certainly wouldn't avoid taking his advice or at least asking him for it.
Edit: Why do you refer to him as a "marine specialist"? I'm assuming he has a degree in marine biology or something like that, right? Whatever the case, nobody here knows the individual in question so we can't say just because he has a pest outbreak he shouldn't be trusted.
Edit: Why do you refer to him as a "marine specialist"? I'm assuming he has a degree in marine biology or something like that, right? Whatever the case, nobody here knows the individual in question so we can't say just because he has a pest outbreak he shouldn't be trusted.
I swear you get a different answer depending on you ask about those little guys. I wonder if it isn’t zoa dependent but if they have another food source? I had them and had no issues.
VintageReefer
2500 Club Member
I wouldn’t have believed it if I didn’t see it with my own eyes. And then I searched forum and it’s happened to others
Sexy shrimp can do the same thing
Beta reefs.
Active Member
If I ask for advice on saltwater they will tell me to ask him.
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