Will they eat my coral

[jorge0912]

i am so scared if this things will eat my coral
Please help !
They are star fish are they bad or good I think I introduced it in the new coral rock I got in even doe I duped it like millions of times :(

 

[SPR1968]

Their asterina starfish

The variety I had/have were coral eaters and decimated GSP colonies and also SPS flesh on some corals and I had to pick them out and eventually add 2 harlequin shrimp to deal with them.

I’ve read some varieties don’t cause issues but it depends which one has gotten into your tank.

I personally would remove them.

 

[jorge0912]

I will not mind the Infestation but i will mind coral munchers :( are they the bad kind or good kind

 

[slowngreen]

It's an Asterina star. They don't bother anything they I've ever seen.

Edit, just read SPR's post, that sucks. Bet they were little monsters once they started eating coral. Seem to populate very fast.

 

[Fishy_mcfish]

Asterina stars, some only eat algae including coralline but then some varieties will eat corals. I’ve had some munching on zoas in the past so now as a precaution I just pull all of them out when I see them.

 

[jorge0912]

Don’t have zoa only softies and lps

 

[jorge0912]

That’s all I could take out

 

[Gonebad395]

They multiply fast I’d watch them

 

[kristinarenee]

When you see one get rid of it. They will multiply quickly.

 

[Neptune 555]

what eats them? I have TONS. No way I can pull them out.

Neptune

 

[tankstudy]

what eats them? I have TONS. No way I can pull them out.

Neptune

Harlequin Shrimp

 

[4FordFamily]

They seem to thrive in "poor water quality" conditions. When my nitrates are high and I need a water change I notice they proliferate. Mine haven't bothered anything besides being annoying, but then again I don't keep a lot of "higher end" corals. I have few zoa colonies, and no SPS.

Harlequin shrimp will throw them down but they'll also eat other stars and after they've cleaned you out of these starfish they will need regular feedings of star legs. Some cut off arms on "farmed" starfish to feed them.

 

[lapin]

Im not an expert on these. I do have some in my tank but not a huge population. From what I do know the white ones appear to be the safe ones while the darker ones can be suspect in coral eating. There are methods of natural control to get rid of them. Abundance of food is one reason they can get out of control. Certain fish and the Harlequin shrimp will eat them.
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-06/ac/feature/

 

[Lovemyreef2015]

Members of the Asterina family are all but impossible to identify down to a species level. Their diets vary greatly. I would remove them just to be safe. We've had white ones, dark ones and ones that had blue tint eating our zoas and palys. We eventually bought a Harlequin shrimp. Just remember that if you go that route you will have to either return the shrimp once it's done or start buying it starfish to eat or it will starve.

 

[KJ]

Agree with @Lovemyreef2015

 

[MaiReef]

They have been on top of my zoas, but have not ate them in my tank. I have not had an issue.

 

[SkinnyMcGinny]

I've had a low grade population for a few years. They appear to be the white ones and have never bothered any corals. I don't have a harlequin shrimp, so I don't know if something else has been munching on them (a few wrasses?) but the population has remained stable and not too bad. I ignore them.

 

[jorge0912]

Well been taking them out can’t understand why the coral rx didn’t kill them if they don’t munch on my soft coral and lps I won’t mind them they are in a rock full of algae at the moment cleaning it don’t have any zoa and sps as well
But I’ll take them out we i can. Also
My water quality is good nitrates are always stable and also phosphates calcium magnesium alk.

Like I read from ur post I’ll take them out as I can but I won’t mind them as long as They don’t eat my leather and lps

 

[jorge0912]

Thank you so much for the replies I really appreciate it

 

[Claus84]

I have an infestation of these asterina stars, as other have said they are not always benign, mine ate 2 colonies of gsp, zoa's and I have to pick them off my gorgs and leathers although they have not done much damage to these so far