New friend? Or not??

Marinenewbie

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Jan 15, 2021
Messages
49
Reaction score
57
Location
UK
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Hi. I woke up this morning to find a tiny new member of our tank. I have read about Astrid? Starfish, but I would like some expert opinion from anyone who has kept one as a pet because my daughter really wanted us to get a starfish for the tank anyway and it is super cute but I don’t want to be infested with them either. Thanks

E4FED363-7166-4745-816A-95E51E4D80A5.jpeg
 

Phil D.

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Jan 4, 2019
Messages
1,355
Reaction score
1,440
Location
Gilbert, AZ
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Asterina Starfish, seeing it's on the glass is a good indication it's an algae eater. I had HUNDREDS of the little buggers taking care of the algae in my tank, but got to be too many. So, bought a Harlequin Shrimp and she's taking care of them.
 

ScottR

Surfing....
View Badges
Joined
Feb 12, 2019
Messages
8,365
Reaction score
28,233
Location
Hong Kong
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Asterina stars are friendly. Some say they eat coralline and some say zoas. I’ve never seen or noticed any losses due to them. But they do become unsightly as your tank ages.
 
OP
OP
Marinenewbie

Marinenewbie

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Jan 15, 2021
Messages
49
Reaction score
57
Location
UK
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
yes, that is an Asterina star. You can try and ID by color on other side. Some people remove them. So far I have always kept them and they haven't bothered any of my corals. You'll get a big debate on good or bad. I count mine as cuc.
That’s cool. How many would you say you have now?
 

Waters

"...in perfect isolation, here behind my wall."
View Badges
Joined
Nov 5, 2013
Messages
7,947
Reaction score
17,116
Location
Mentor, OH
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I was always able to keep them in check by manual removal of any I see on the glass once I did a water change (which would be 10-20 weekly). I had a semi-predator tank so they were my primary CUC.
 

mcbdz

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Mar 2, 2019
Messages
393
Reaction score
491
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
That’s cool. How many would you say you have now?
My tank is fixing to be 2 yrs and just now seeing about 10 on glass at night occationally. I do remember having swarms of them in my 55gal years ago that was started with all real liverock. Not sure but my wrasse has picke dthem off glass and dropped them occationally so he may be keeping them in check somehow?
 
OP
OP
Marinenewbie

Marinenewbie

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Jan 15, 2021
Messages
49
Reaction score
57
Location
UK
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
My tank is fixing to be 2 yrs and just now seeing about 10 on glass at night occationally. I do remember having swarms of them in my 55gal years ago that was started with all real liverock. Not sure but my wrasse has picke dthem off glass and dropped them occationally so he may be keeping them in check somehow?
Ok thanks
 

vetteguy53081

Well known Member and monster tank lover
View Badges
Joined
Aug 11, 2013
Messages
90,423
Reaction score
199,090
Location
Wisconsin -
Rating - 100%
13   0   0
not to be trusted.
I had one eat almost an entire colony of BamBam Zoa. They multiply like mice also.
 
OP
OP
Marinenewbie

Marinenewbie

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Jan 15, 2021
Messages
49
Reaction score
57
Location
UK
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
yes, that is an Asterina star. You can try and ID by color on other side. Some people remove them. So far I have always kept them and they haven't bothered any of my corals. You'll get a big debate on good or bad. I count mine as cuc.
I have a pic from the top now. Seems to have some dark spots on it? Anyone know what kind?
 

Attachments

  • F644E4AD-3F00-4DBF-B5C2-A6CF6A29AD73.jpeg
    F644E4AD-3F00-4DBF-B5C2-A6CF6A29AD73.jpeg
    119.8 KB · Views: 30
  • AC131C06-B258-45F0-8753-15D57017FAD8.jpeg
    AC131C06-B258-45F0-8753-15D57017FAD8.jpeg
    105.3 KB · Views: 16

Aquatic acrobat in your aquarium: Have you ever kept an eel?

  • I currently keep an eel in my tank.

    Votes: 29 14.8%
  • I have kept an eel in my tank in the past.

    Votes: 33 16.8%
  • I have not kept an eel in my tank, but I hope to in the future.

    Votes: 35 17.9%
  • I have no plans to keep an eel.

    Votes: 96 49.0%
  • Other.

    Votes: 3 1.5%
Back
Top