What kind of Asterina is this and should I removig

[Ocean’s Piece]

Sorry for bad image. They haven’t multiplied a ton in the past 6 months but there’s probably 25 in my tank. Some 5+ arms and others like this. Never seen them eating at corals. Couldn’t find the exact species of this one online so I wanted to see if y’all would know. Thanks.
@vetteguy53081

 

[vetteguy53081]

I cannot tell from pic which is really small. Most asterina looks like ones below and are in essence a nuisance. Pull them as you see them by hand or with a small 2" net and discard

 

[Billdogg]

I'm afraid I must disagree with the statement that most asterinas are a nuisance and should be removed.

IME (over 30 years of marine aquaria keeping) I have yet to have one that caused any trouble whatsoever. Can their population become large? Sure. Should that happen, limit their food source and/or move them to other tanks. I find them to be a beneficial part of my CUC, eating film algae and other bits of detritus.

JM.02 YMMV

 

[Ocean’s Piece]

I'm afraid I must disagree with the statement that most asterinas are a nuisance and should be removed.

IME (over 30 years of marine aquaria keeping) I have yet to have one that caused any trouble whatsoever. Can their population become large? Sure. Should that happen, limit their food source and/or move them to other tanks. I find them to be a beneficial part of my CUC, eating film algae and other bits of detritus.

JM.02 YMMV

Yeah I know asterina Star removal is a touchy subject. I know some species are known to be coral munchers and others are good cuc members. Just wanted to see if anyone knew the species. I’ll try to get a better picture of one later

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

They are all bad. After they multiply they will sit on top of zoas.
If you can't properly i.d. them than it is better safe than sorry in my opinion or exp. When it comes to hitchhiking. If no i.d. out it goes
D

 

[Tamberav]

I have lots of stars and an entire rock of zoa's and they never bother them. I have had them for like 10 years. They eat film algae for me.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Some people do get lucky. I had two asterinas that ate almost entire 180 polyp rock of bam bam zoa. They got to just larger than anickel

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Mine were white. They developed Green on the top center above the mouth. Yes mine ate green algae. They also sat on top of zoas. All I can do is share my experience or what I had.
D

 

[Anthony Kochevar]

IME, I've found the ones smaller than a nail head to not be an issue, they are a good CUC and I've never seen them on a coral. Any one larger than a dime in my tank loved to eat SPS polyps and was removed.

 

[Ocean’s Piece]

I’ll probably just be safe rather than sorry and start removing when I see them. Mine look like this one:

They have a white body with gray smudges on the back.

 

[Softhammer]

If anyone has any confirmed zoanthid eaters id be happy to buy or trade a pile of sps For them. I have probably 20,000 yes no typo hitch hiker Zoas that I have been fighting a losing battle with for 15 years.

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Those are exactly like the 1s I had. They split and sometimes have only 4 legs. 1 being shorter.
D

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Notice the darker green black center. Its from what they are eating
D

 

[Tamberav]

These are my good guys. There’s many many kinds and probably plenty not described so I don’t think any sort of ID is possible.

I end up with more of them in dirty tanks and cleaner tanks with less film algae… not so many. The number regulate based on available algae.

I always give a hitchhiker a chance if I don’t know if it’s bad or good but most people do the opposite. I also use live rock direct from the ocean and found such great success with a low maintenance tank by letting diversity happen

If they are multiplying fast, you can cull the numbers by siphoning them out with water changes.

 

[Ocean’s Piece]

These are my good guys. There’s many many kinds and probably plenty not described so I don’t think any sort of ID is possible.

I end up with more of them in dirty tanks and cleaner tanks with less film algae… not so many. The number regulate based on available algae.

I always give a hitchhiker a chance if I don’t know if it’s bad or good but most people do the opposite. I also use live rock direct from the ocean and found such great success with a low maintenance tank by letting diversity happen

If they are multiplying fast, you can cull the numbers by siphoning them out with water changes.

Those guys look similar to the ones I have but have more gray in them than mine

 

[Double monti 61]

Some people do get lucky. I had two asterinas that ate almost entire 180 polyp rock of bam bam zoa. They got to just larger than anickel

They do not look like astrinia starfish!

 

[vetteguy53081]

They do not look like astrinia starfish!

It is. Asterina come in over 80 variations as you see below. Here is yours which is an asterina also.

others:

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Bat stars^^^ tile stars^^^^
Asternia might be a scientific name but... common trade name in the sw hobby for hitchhiker star
D

 

[Double monti 61]

That is great information but mine are the standard issue obligatory stars that show up that do not devour my coral.