What is this starfish looking thing? Friend or foe?

[JFleur]

As the title states, i found this when the lights are out. I do have a sand sifting starfish in the tank thats been in there for about a yr now and im not sure if this is a baby starfish or something that will hurt the tank

 

[vetteguy53081]

Type of asterina star , and welcomed in any of my tanks. Remove if you can. Don’t want these landing on your coral or zoa

 

[JFleur]

Type of asterina star , and welcomed in any of my tanks. Remove if you can. Don’t want these landing on your coral or zoa

So not a good thing?

 

[vetteguy53081]

So not a good thing?

They’re just hard to trust. Caught one a month ago eating my prized bam bam zoa colony. Explains how it got so large

 

[JFleur]

They’re just hard to trust. Caught one a month ago eating my prized bam bam zoa colony. Explains how it got so large

Ive been reading harlequin shrimp take care of them. Id like to get one but i already have 3 types of shrimp in the tank, can i add a 4th type?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Ive been reading harlequin shrimp take care of them. Id like to get one but i already have 3 types of shrimp in the tank, can i add a 4th type?

They do. Problem is, once gone you will need to by chocolate chip or other stars to keep shrimp fed

 

[JFleur]

They do. Problem is, once gone you will need to by chocolate chip or other stars to keep shrimp fed

Ok, also i have a sand sifting starfish, will the shrimp attack that?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Ok, also i have a sand sifting starfish, will the shrimp attack that?

YES, for sure

 

[JFleur]

YES, for sure

Oh no

 

[vetteguy53081]

These stars appear on the glass in the morning. Look for them and net/pick them out. Eventually, they’ll be gone

 

[Jamo7]

I had them come in on something. They multiplied, I picked them when I could spot them. And then they disappear. Haven’t seen one in months. I visited a fellow reefer and I mentioned them because I saw them in his tank and he said he didn’t worry about them. When they were in my tank I never saw them do any harm. But some will say they do.

 

[billandwende]

Ok, also i have a sand sifting starfish, will the shrimp attack that?

Yes they will.