Asterina starfish?

[Lavey29]

Friend or foe? Annihilate or assimilate?

They are darn cute though. I wish they came in all different colors.

 

[G Santana]

I have hundreds, they don't harm anything, I am waiting for the number to increase so I can get a harlequin shrimp lol

 

[AydenLincoln]

I know they are! People see them as both. Some have reported problems others have not…they will explode in population though.

 

[jsker]

I have hundreds, they don't harm anything, I am waiting for the number to increase so I can get a harlequin shrimp lol

They have been in the tank for years, I had a couple of critters that would eat a harlequin shrimp. I did not purchase a harlequin for that reason and the harlequin would starve, unless one buys chocolate chip starfish and brakes breaks the star fish up for food for the harlequin.

 

[Lavey29]

I have hundreds, they don't harm anything, I am waiting for the number to increase so I can get a harlequin shrimp lol

Didn't mess with your zoas? I don't have much algae at all so little worried they will switch to coral appetizers

 

[Lavey29]

They have been in the tank for years, I had a couple of critters that would eat a harlequin shrimp. I did not purchase a harlequin for that reason and the harlequin would starve, unless one buys chocolate chip starfish and brakes breaks the star fish up for food for the harlequin.

My 6 line hasn't shown an interest at all.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Nightmare all the way. They'll multiply and get into your intakes, sump, impeller housing and take down zoas.
I caught two big ones which took down an entire BamBam colony

 

[jsker]

My 6 line hasn't shown an interest at all.

That is a good thing. I used to have a 6 line, great fish too. My tank assassin (maroon) completed a hit on my 6 line.

 

[EricR]

They do look cool sometimes but I saw them explode in population rapidly in a really nice display tank at my LFS so I'm too afraid of that.
*only ever found one (after dipping then introducing some zoas so not sure how it survived)

I pulled it out but felt bad -- pics just for fun:

...snapshot of digital microscope view of same little guy:

 

[Lavey29]

Do you guys find them coming out mainly after lights out?

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

I have hundreds, they don't harm anything, I am waiting for the number to increase so I can get a harlequin shrimp lol

Are you still looking are you in Florida by chance? I am looking to remove mine soon the asterinas are running out for it, I will be looking to rehome this shrimp in the next few weeks or month or 2.