Starfish

[Kirstin]

Hello,
yesterday i picked up 3 small hermit crabs, with banded legs, 2 clown fish and a sand sifting starfish. This morning one of my leather corals was damaged. The coral had 3 heads and one was on the ground. The frag plug still attached. Would the starfish do this damage? Was this a mistake purchase? I am trying to combat algae in the tank. I have a black algae developing on the sand bed.

 

[LiveWire]

If I were to guess the issue was most likely caused by the clowns and or hermits. I would say the starfish did not cause the issue. I'm not a fan of having Sand sifting stars in the system as there is no where close to enough micro fauna or food to keep the starfish healthy and happy and it will slowly starve to death. IMO the sand sifting starfish should be left in the oceans.

 

[Kirstin]

Thanks, bad purchase on my part. Will they eat algae pellets? I hate to think that I am going to slowly kill it. It was recommended by my LFS for algae control.