What starfish are these good / bad

[Marty.h]

Just found these 2 ontop of my Zoa's and I'm convinced they was having a munch never seen any like it in there before are they good or bad I did not want to put them in the sump incase they spread so are presently in a cup of water any ideas

 

[Tahoe61]

Asterina, it they were on your zoanthids it's probably best to remove them from the system.

 

[Marty.h]

I've seen the 5 legged ones in there and the just plod around on glass and the rocks but those 2 who have more legs where on my Zoa's and they had hold of it well I watched them and they was not moving but had clearly positioned themselves on a pulyp.

I don't like to kill anything like all my hitchhiking crabs I just put them in the sump but it's best these are out of the system don't want tiny bits of them getting to DT and reproduce ect.

 

[Tahoe61]

The number of legs has no value regarding identification. These star fish commonly reproduce via asexually reproduction, they leave a leg with a section of the central disk behind, this remnant develops into a fully functional and reproducing Asterina.

Some may be corals eaters, some may become opportunistic feeders, eating zoanthids or other corals. Most commonly they are harmless algae eaters, but if you see them on zoanthids, they are probably munching on zoanthids.

I have actually kept them and feed them zoanthids, being reluctant to banish cool hitch-hikers.

 

[Marty.h]

I have 2 large zoa colonies would not want them taken out :(

 

[Tahoe61]

Well the Asterina do not eat that fast, so watch the starfish, if the starfish returns to the zoanthids then you will know for sure. Remember population control of Asterina is another problem unfortunately.

 

[Marty.h]

I could borrow a couple of harlequins from my LFS I'm sure they would soon take care of any in there.

 

[Longnose Hawkfish]

I have seen my melanarus wrasse eat some.

 

[Marty.h]

All wrasses are ment to like jumping and I have no cover over my tank so don't fancy one jumping and a lot take a fancy to munching shrimp my old lunar wrass did

 

[Bensadork]

That's very unfortunate. I have a multitude of asterina starfish in my tank and I have not seen them messing with my zoas at all. I bet theres at least 50 starfish in my 46g bowfront tank, all being descendants of the first few liverock hitchhikers. I have seen them with 4,5,6,or even 7 legs. Some are almost white in color while some are darker with red spots all over them. With that being said, I only have 2 zoa frags right next to eachother that have only been in the tank for 2-3 weeks. I guess we will see if the starfish start taking a liking to the zoas, then it will be decision time. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.