Asterina starfish in sump?

[CrazyCatLady]

Time for my first (stupid) question since joining.

I have read the love/hate relationships people have with asterina starfish. I have a tank full of zoas and other softies, so I am hesitant to have them in my DT, but can I put them in my sump/refugium without it destroying my ecosystem?

We are tearing down a little 24 AIO and with no rock or fish in there, I'm noticing all the asterinas on the glass. I have a hard time with the idea of just plucking them out and flushing them, but I also don't want to put them in my sump if they will just end up wreaking havoc on everything. I know harlequin shrimp will snack on them, but once I run out, I don't have the heart to cut off limbs of other starfish to feed it.

 

[Zer0]

In the past I always relocated them to the fuge in my sump, had all kinds of macroalgae and I never saw them do much to them. Assuming they are the non-predacious species, I’m fairly certain their diet consists mostly of film algae.

 

[ctnguye3]

In my previous tank, these starfish literally took over. Every water change I would syphon as much as I can. I personally would remove them unless you're okay with them multiplying like crazy in your display and sump.

 

[Pistondog]

Put them in the fuge.
Harlequins are cool, but difficult without asterinas.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Time for my first (stupid) question since joining.

I have read the love/hate relationships people have with asterina starfish. I have a tank full of zoas and other softies, so I am hesitant to have them in my DT, but can I put them in my sump/refugium without it destroying my ecosystem?

We are tearing down a little 24 AIO and with no rock or fish in there, I'm noticing all the asterinas on the glass. I have a hard time with the idea of just plucking them out and flushing them, but I also don't want to put them in my sump if they will just end up wreaking havoc on everything. I know harlequin shrimp will snack on them, but once I run out, I don't have the heart to cut off limbs of other starfish to feed it.

They will eventually make it to your return pump and into your display tank- reason why I eliminate them immediately. They are worse than mice and not to trust.

 

[CMMorgan]

They will eventually make it to your return pump and into your display tank- reason why I eliminate them immediately. They are worse than mice and not to trust.

Worse than mice. That is an image.... sneaky mice putting starfish in your aquarium. LOL I have them from time to time, they never get out of hand.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Worse than mice. That is an image.... sneaky mice putting starfish in your aquarium. LOL I have them from time to time, they never get out of hand.

I had some grow to larger than a nickle and took down a colony of Bam Bam zoas ( a 7" x 5" colony !!

 

[CrazyCatLady]

They will eventually make it to your return pump and into your display tank- reason why I eliminate them immediately. They are worse than mice and not to trust.

That's what I was afraid of...

Guess it's time to put my game face on and either flush the little boogers, or find someone who lives close by that has a harlequin.

Thanks!

 

[CrazyCatLady]

I had some grow to larger than a nickle and took down a colony of Bam Bam zoas ( a 7" x 5" colony !!

Oh yeah, that would DEFINITELY make it a lot easier to kill them.

 

[kaylajoy]

If you are worried sell them instead of killing them. I'm sure someone will want them.

 

[Patientman]

Time for my first (stupid) question since joining.
...

I believe that about the only "stupid question" is the one you DON'T ask … because you'll NEVER get an answer to it!

 

[coralreefer123]

In my previous tank, these starfish literally took over. Every water change I would syphon as much as I can. I personally would remove them unless you're okay with them multiplying like crazy in your display and sump.

Do you have any that I could take off your hands? I would need them shipped (i would pay). Thanks, Ann

 

[jaganshi066]

They will eventually make it to your return pump and into your display tank- reason why I eliminate them immediately. They are worse than mice and not to trust.

Haha this made me laugh, if they are worse than mice there’s a problem. Mice multiply faster than anything it’s crazy

 

[jaganshi066]

Do you have any that I could take off your hands? I would need them shipped (i would pay). Thanks, Ann

If you are worried sell them instead of killing them. I'm sure someone will want them.

Me for my harlequin

 

[vetteguy53081]

Haha this made me laugh, if they are worse than mice there’s a problem. Mice multiply faster than anything it’s crazy

The issue is, you only need ONE hitchhiker. They break a leg literally and it becomes a new star. They both again break of a leg and you now have 4. They break off a leg and you now have eight and so forth.

 

[jaganshi066]

The issue is, you only need ONE hitchhiker. They break a leg literally and it becomes a new star. They both again break of a leg and you now have 4. They break off a leg and you now have eight and so forth.

For some reason I still see a few in my tank even though I have a harlequin

 

[vetteguy53081]

For some reason I still see a few in my tank even though I have a harlequin

Shrimp will take them one by one. as its doing that , another one or three are reproducing. Eventually they catch up to them

 

[jaganshi066]

Shrimp will take them one by one. as its doing that , another one or three are reproducing. Eventually they catch up to them

Should I stop buying him chocolate chip starfishes until they are gone? I always see one or two asterinas but maybe he can’t see them