Please Identify

[jeflen651]

Please identify the white star fish looking critter on the glass. To the left of it is a smaller one that looks like a dot. After the lights have been off at night and they ramp up in the morning there will be several of these all around the tank glass and after the lights have been on for about an hour they leave the glass into the sand. I have been picking them off the glass in the morning but it seems that I am not making any headway. Are there any fish or crabs that are reef safe that feed on them? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated

 

[bios]

Hi those are asterina
Hymenocera picta/elegans eat them but Also other starfish
And its reefsafe
But When Finish have to feed with other starfish

 

[jeflen651]

Hi those are asterina
Hymenocera picta/elegans eat them but Also other starfish
And its reefsafe
But When Finish have to feed with other starfish

Thanks for the info, I believe you are right.

 

[Vincent100]

Some people say remove them,some people say their fine ..... I'm on the fine side , iv maybe over 100 of them in my tank and sump and they have never caused any trouble
Just another part of a clean up crew in my eyes

 

[Vincent100]

Lights out on my tank but just took a couple of pics of some ....they are everywere at night and iv a few that are different colours

 

[Tahoe61]

There are 100's of different types of Asterina, they come from vastly different geological locations. Even marine biologist have issue telling what specific type they are.
Some are most definitely coral eaters, some algae grazers and some become opportunistic feeders.
Personally I have had zoanthid eaters and coralline algae eaters that I let say in the tank.

 

[bios]

White one algae eater
Green or light blue with no simmetry
Generally also corals eater

 

[Salty1962]

Harlequin Shrimp will clear them out but as mentioned after they go through the Asterins's you'll need to feed them other starfish. I had one for @2 yrs. Pretty cool.

 

[jeflen651]

Thanks to everyone who replied. They do not seem to be hurting anything but they are unsightly when the lights come on. I will probably get a Harlequin Shrimp and try to clean them out then pass it along to somebody else who needs to do the same.