Red planet getting eaten. Please ID hitchhiker

[BlennyKravitz]

hi all. My red planet had a big nasty patch on it this AM.

I was advised to dip it to see what came off and in addition to dozens of copepods and asterina stars, I saw a few of these.

What are these guys? Do I start nuking everything?

 

[KJ]

Isopod Serolid algae grazer.

 

[Tahoe61]

Were the Asterina at the base of the piece or under the base?

 

[BlennyKravitz]

About 20 asterina came out of the tiny rock the acro was glued to. I'm amazed how many there were. Some of those guys are bad right?

I might need to get a second harlequin shrimp to help the one I have!

 

[Tahoe61]

Asterina will hide under the base during the day and come out at night to graze. If you found them in close proximity they could be a definite suspect. You'll need to look at the coral at night with a flash light, and probably repeat nightly at different times. The pest is most likely feeding at night any way. Please follow up with whatever you find.

 

[McMullen]

Looks like the coral to the left of the red planet as well as your digi at upper right are also being eaten.

 

[BlennyKravitz]

Looks like the coral to the left of the red planet as well as your digi at upper right are also being eaten.

Thankfully it's just the light. This is morning with only ambient sun. That's a pink lemonade which is thriving right next to it.

The orange digi is actually recovering well. It was sick when I found it. Waiting for it to grow before fragging the dead part

 

[BlennyKravitz]

Asterina will hide under the base during the day and come out at night to graze. If you found them in close proximity they could be a definite suspect. You'll need to look at the coral at night with a flash light, and probably repeat nightly at different times. The pest is most likely feeding at night any way. Please follow up with whatever you find.

I have tons of those asterina. I noticed some are dark and some are light colored. I recall reading that these are two different beasts. What am I paying this deadbeat harlequin shrimp for!!!???

I would much rather have this problem than AEFW!

 

[Tahoe61]

There are hundreds of different types of Asterina, the coral eating variety are rare but it's does happen.