Montipora Eating Starfish??

[Xler8n]

So ive had this problem that seems to be getting worse. I have all these little starfish that mostly come out at night that are eating 2 of my motipora colonies. At first i thought it was nudibrachs but after careful inspection with a 8x magnifying glass i couldnt find any. I would notice when i shone the flashlight i would see these startfish on top of my monti colonies.. I know people say that there are Acro eating starfish but my acros are fine and so are my other montis. I did an experiment where i took a clean frag in the spot where the montis where getting eaten and sure enough a bleach spot but no nudis. Its gotta be the starfish. I can see angles where the bleach spots are. A friend told me i need to get a few harlequin shrimps. Has anyone had any experience with these starfish eating their montis? Here are some i pulled out of the tank and let cook on my center brace.

 

[Surf&turf]

They will eat any SPS when they run out of algae.

 

[cmcneil]

i havent had them eat montis but i have had them affect zoas.if i were you i would get some harleqiun shrimp and i used to siphon them out during water changes as well.you need to lower the population big time to get control over them.they multiply rather quickly so the more you get out the better.you can even siphon them into your filter sock then change the sock,i did this in between water changes.

 

[secretreefer]

+1 on harlequin shrimp pair. my buddy just got a pair and as soon as he dropped them in they started going to work.

 

[reeflady577]

Harlequin shrimp will do the trick, but you should collect several asterinas and put them in your sump so they can start reproducing that way the harlequin won't run out of food once it has cleaned out your main tank.

 

[Netta Fish]

i havent had them eat montis but i have had them affect zoas.if i were you i would get some harleqiun shrimp and i used to siphon them out during water changes as well.you need to lower the population big time to get control over them.they multiply rather quickly so the more you get out the better.you can even siphon them into your filter sock then change the sock,i did this in between water changes.

what did these stars do to your polyps im having a problem with mine and wonder if this could be the source

 

[Xler8n]

Thanks. I threw a few in my sump a while back which is why i think im having a problem. I thought they were just algae eaters. I pulled 2 huge ones out of my sump. Like 1/2 inch. I have a 75 gallon. Should i get one or two harlequin shrimp. They pretty much leave a bleach spot.

 

[BHAMR6]

Finally I have answers I have been having SPS losing flesh and when I would post pics everyone would say acro eating flat worms !!!!! But I would tear the coral off the rock and look and look and would never find AEFW but I would find these little starfish... I always thought they were harmless but I did think it was weird that they were always on the coral that was doing bad

 

[Xler8n]

Yup its these little F***ers