Can anyone ID this(maybe asterina)

[Joe.]

 

[Crabs McJones]

Yup, asterina

 

[Joe.]

Yup, asterina

Do you know if this type will eat my coral?

 

[Crabs McJones]

Do you know if this type will eat my coral?

It might crawl over them, but I dont believe they're coral eaters. At least I've never witnessed it

 

[Joe.]

It might crawl over them, but I dont believe they're coral eaters. At least I've never witnessed it

Cool . I'll try keeping it in there. Thanks for the quick response!

 

[rkpetersen]

Some believe that asterinas will attack zoas, although whether it's healthy zoas or ailing ones, is unclear.
They will however definitely reproduce like rabbits, particularly if you have a lot of coralline algae (which they do eat).
They're generally considered to be a pest, and some people remove them manually.
Another way to get rid of them is a pair of Harlequin Shrimp, which are amazing to watch and only eat sea stars.

 

[Katrina71]

I was told dark colored ones tend to be the ones to go rogue. Not sure if it's true, but I do pluck them out.

 

[Joe.]

I was told dark colored ones tend to be the ones to go rogue. Not sure if it's true, but I do pluck them out.

it already split in 2. I'll have to wait until I see them again and try to take them out. Thanks.

 

[Jettareefer223]

I second the harlequin shrimp. I had a pair for about 2 years they took care of them in short order and they’re just cool to watch! My purple tang decided to put out a hit list on all my shrimp .

 

[Joe.]

I second the harlequin shrimp. I had a pair for about 2 years they took care of them in short order and they’re just cool to watch! My purple tang decided to put out a hit list sniping all my shrimp with military precision .

Haha yea. I they look pretty cool. I've lost 3 peppermint shrimps to an overly aggressive 6 line, who I recently pulled my hair out to catch. But I did it. Guy was harassing everything in my tank.

 

[Jet915]

i have a bunch of them, ive seen them eat/kill zoas, of course they only seem to like the expensive ones. I got a harlequin shrimp, its been 2 months and its reduced but not eliminated them...

 

[Jettareefer223]

Haha yea. I they look pretty cool. I've lost 3 peppermint shrimps to an overly aggressive 6 line, who I recently pulled my hair out to catch. But I did it. Guy was harassing everything in my tank.

I’ve experienced the same thing with sixline’s and the “little man syndrome” defect lol. It’s just the luck of the draw with them, and I’ve had them pester fish 10X their size (or larger) to death . Then others be the best model citizens!

 

[Jettareefer223]

i have a bunch of them, ive seen them eat/kill zoas, of course they only seem to like the expensive ones. I got a harlequin shrimp, its been 2 months and its reduced but not eliminated them...

It does take some time and depends how large the harlequins are as well the tank size. Most of the time it take a lot less time for them eliminate the problem then it did for the star population to get out of hand.