Starfish Eating Coral

[watdachuck]

I tweezed this little guy off one of my corals tonight. I was in disbelief until I caught it red handed chomping away on the same SPS that was showing some polyp loss.

Anyone have any info on these guys? From my internet search it is just one of many Asterina species.

 

[ingtar_shinowa]

Looks similar to ones i have that are eating birdnest and povona maldivness as well as certain palys and zoas.

 

[watdachuck]

Should I flush them as I find them or you think they'd be fine in the sump?

 

[ingtar_shinowa]

I just pull them out and set them out to dry. I got my aquasd pack last Wednesday and pulled 30 off the front and side glass. It sickened me. I need to get a pair of Harlequin shrimp. I always felt bad about feeding live starfish to them, but I no longer feel empathy for starfish after astrina started killing my coral. Its like worms i guess. Just need to rehome my melarunus and its go time.

 

[ingtar_shinowa]

If you put them in the sump they will breed there and make it back to the display. I have them in my sump too. And I sure a heck didn't put them there.

 

[saltyphish]

Yup asterina starfish. Most people remove them. Some will munch on corals while others seem content with just algae. I pulled one from my tank the other day. They multiply fast.