Is this a starfish?

[dnyceli]

welcome to the hobby. all Asterina stars can be send my way if you don't want them. My harlequin shrimp loves them

 

[Roy 9121]

The whitish thing below the fish's mouth has gradually been getting bigger over the last two weeks. Just wondering if anyone can I'd it?

I have a few of these in my tank, i pull them out when i can. Just got to keep an eye on them, they can get out of hand. Copper banded butterfly fish will eat them.

 

[Debramb]

My 2 cents, I use my long handled wooden spoon (use for vermitid clearing) to lift the 6" or more Bristleworms, when that big, they curl up and float! I harvest about once a month, great cleaners for extra food!

 

[eleet]

didnt I read about your plague recently? Hows that going?
Yes, I agree. With no predation, they will just grow in numbers. While theres no "evidence" of asterina preying on zoas/corals, I have personally found them eating my zoas. IMO, get it out now before it breeds.

It's slowly improving. Pulling out a couple hundred a day. My harlequins are morbidly obese. Still no sign of polyps on any montipora.

 

[badd]

It's slowly improving. Pulling out a couple hundred a day. My harlequins are morbidly obese. Still no sign of polyps on any montipora.

I do know those stars can multiply by broken off pieces so any small piece can become 100's again

 

[Kaleigh]

Kill the bristle worms!!!!! Kill them!!! I have a very unique way of getting rid of them. It works every time and it's 100% risk free from getting hurt

 

[Idoc]

Kill the bristle worms!!!!! Kill them!!! I have a very unique way of getting rid of them. It works every time and it's 100% risk free from getting hurt

I'm new to this, but I thought bristle worms were good to keep around for detritus cleanup, etc...?

 

[ahiggins]

I'm new to this, but I thought bristle worms were good to keep around for detritus cleanup, etc...?

They ARE a very good cuc member, excellent cleaner of poo buuuuuuut I always flush them if I find them. I have my hands in the tank way too often to worry about getting stung.

 

[Rory]

On that starfish, I get rid of them as I see them. Caught some eating my zoas so they are now on my banned list. As for bristle worms, got hundreds in my tanks. Great for clean up. Personally I have never gotten stung by one.

 

[Kaleigh]

When they get big enough and hungry enough they will start hunting. I had one kill and eat my tuxedo urchin.

 

[HermitCrabLeota]

There are far to many species of asterina to pin point which may feed on sessile inverts. I personally had never had any varieties that I've noticed hung around on any of my corals. I personally find them to be my favorite hitchhiker and enjoy watching them propagate by ripping themselves in half, just like how our cells reproduce in our bodies. As with all hitch hikers, be wary, but don't worry yourself to the bone about them. The reef is a vastly diverse world and everything has it's place in the micro-climate and there are only a few hitchhikers that truely need to be removed no matter what.

Enjoy the minutiae of the hobby!