Starfish pest?

[Oscar Bravo]

I am getting a bunch of small starfish and I really don't know if they are bad or not. It looks like they are reproducing fast though.

 

[ReefSapper]

They can be considered pest but they are mostly harmless, in fact they do help with algae issues. That being said i hate them and try to keep them out of my tanks, they will continue to split at a rapid rate and take over your tank if you let it. Start pulling them out if you dont want them, only other way i know of is harlequin shrimp, they will eat them but they only eat star fish so you will have to keep them fed once your pest problem is solved.

 

[Tahoe61]

Asterina, hundreds of different varieties. Tools to ID specific variety is difficult. Common issues are over populations, zoanthid eating, coral eating, coralline eating and benign varieties. It's really a wait and watch game with this star fish.

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

Asterina stars and they will quickly multiply. Some are known to eat zoas and may eat other corals. Most of the time they are just detrivores but since they multiply so quickly they can easily overpopulate and start getting into things such as pumps and return tubing.

 

[Oscar Bravo]

I haven't seen them eat any of my corals but they are multiplying fast!!! Tho, their is one on my clovers that hasn't move from there for a day but I cant reach it :(