Safe for tank or just a nuissance?

[KimberlyMary]

Found this little dude with ny new snails and shrimp. What should I do with him? What is he exactly?

 

[Jekyl]

Asterina star fish.

 

[KimberlyMary]

Asterina star fish.

I know there are differebt opinions on them... should I just chuck it in with my snails? Or stay away?

 

[Jekyl]

I know there are differebt opinions on them... should I just chuck it in with my snails? Or stay away?

Personal preference. Some say certain species can go after zoas. Mine never have.

 

[Jekyl]

If you found one there is probably more. Will have to be vigilant if you want them all removed

 

[MNFish]

Personally I would get rid of it..... if there ends up being more they have never hurt anything in my tank, but once they are in they are hard to get rid of.....

 

[Apollo7235]

I actually wouldn’t mind having a small population of them so I could keep a harlequin shrimp, but that’s just me!

 

[The Lumpster]

I also have them in a couple of my tanks. Mine do not bother any of my corals nor do they eat coralline. I really like them...so far. They definitely multiply fairly quickly. I have gone from one hitchhiker on some live rock to over 50 in a year and a half. Maybe there are different varieties of Asterinas? Mine look a little different than yours.
If you want them out, they are fairly easy to remove. Just get a tweezers, turkey baster, or you hands and pick them out. Mine are out and about the most in the morning.

 

[MNFish]

I actually wouldn’t mind having a small population of them so I could keep a harlequin shrimp, but that’s just me!

I have actually thought of buying a harlequin shrimp as I think the are stunning... but my luck it would eat them all somehow....

 

[KimberlyMary]

I'm currently only have FOWLR but maybe I am better off ditching it. I already feel as though my nassarius snails, although not pests, are too plentiful for what I would like. Probably best not to be overrun with something else.

 

[Jekyl]

I actually wouldn’t mind having a small population of them so I could keep a harlequin shrimp, but that’s just me!

Problem is that the shrimp will eradicate them in short order. Then you have to buy star fish to feed it.

 

[Apollo7235]

Problem is that the shrimp will eradicate them in short order. Then you have to buy star fish to feed it.

Definitely! But if you had a healthy asterism population, it should be fine, right? I can’t imagine one shrimp could eradicate a decent population on its own?

 

[Jekyl]

Definitely! But if you had a healthy asterism population, it should be fine, right? I can’t imagine one shrimp could eradicate a decent population on its own?

Not from what I've heard. I have tons in my 90 gallon and still decided against it. I don't like the idea of buying chocolate chip star fish and chopping legs off.

 

[MNFish]

I'm currently only have FOWLR but maybe I am better off ditching it. I already feel as though my nassarius snails, although not pests, are too plentiful for what I would like. Probably best not to be overrun with something else.

Seems like even if you have coral it is a very small chance they will eat it, but if you have no coral they do not pose a threat to anything and can clean spots on the rocks the nassarius snails may not be able to get too....

 

[Apollo7235]

Not from what I've heard. I have tons in my 90 gallon and still decided against it. I don't like the idea of buying chocolate chip star fish and chopping legs off.

Yeahhhh, I’m a bit too squeamish and too much of a bleeding heart to do that to any animal to feed another