Beware of the 3 legged Gray Astrenas (SP?)

[Darren]

Well some folks will say no way they are harmless but I can tell you without a shadow of doubt that they are not. I have on 4 occasions now caught the small 3 legged gray / blue Astrena star fish killing my Zoa / Paly Polyps. Today I saw 1 polyp in the center of my 20 polyp PPE colony closed up. Upon further inspection there was a gray / blue astrena latched on to the polyp. On other occasions I have looked in my tank to see a clear spot on a Zoa colony and found one on what was left of the polyps. Now these are not the white ones that normally hang out on the glass. These are a slate gray / blue color and usually have 3 - 3.5 legs. They tend to stay on the LR and then show up on my Zoa / Paly colonies. You have to look pretty close as they tend to blend in on the LR. Be afraid...Be very afraid.

 

[Deepwater]

I am with you on this one , I have witness these little buggers eat one of nicest zoa polyps as well THey are NO welcomed in any of my tanks anymore , Then came my harly shrimp and never again to see them in my tank.
Good luck and get one of those shrimp those bugger multiply quick

 

[ecotoxlady]

Darren, a while back I submitted pictures to zoaid of one of these asterinas eating a zoa (though unfortunately at that point little remained ). I can say without a doubt that those guys are bad. Here is the link:
http://www.zoaid.com/index.php?module=Gallery2&g2_itemId=1473

 

[Darren]

Yep that is them! The PPE polyp that it was attached to is now closed and has these brown lesions / wounds. The rest of the colony looks good. Will a harlequin get along with a cleaner?

 

[Smarsh]

I will have to agree on this as well. Mine were the pinkish colored ones that almost anillated a colony of zoa's I have. Once I got rid of them, the colony is now back to full steam.

Sandy

 

[reefermadness]

I like my neon orange serpent and other brittle stars too much. Maybe I will stick to the SPS corals, they seem to prosper snail, stars, or whatever!

 

[Deepwater]

Yep that is them! The PPE polyp that it was attached to is now closed and has these brown lesions / wounds. The rest of the colony looks good. Will a harlequin get along with a cleaner?

Yes, Both shrimp should get along fine. I have 2 cleaners, 1 blood ,3 sexy shrimp, 1 pep and a pistol shrimp and the harly all live in perfect harmony

 

[impur]

One got my frag of eclipse yellows. Woke up in the morning and all 3 polyps were gone with one of these sitting right where they used to be. I get them out when i see them, but its rare that i find one.