Save his life??

[mysaltwatertank]

Bought my first ball of chaeto and this guy is in there. Save it?? Its a starfish

 

[Daddy-o]

Looks like an Asterina? they are pests

 

[mysaltwatertank]

Looks like an Asterina? they are pests

Okay thanks yes looked it up online it does look like an asterina

 

[Dkmoo]

Okay thanks yes looked it up online it does look like an asterina

yeah carefully comb thru the ball before you add it in - some hitch hikers like bristle worms and feathers are good but these asterinas are bad - when removing take care to remove the whole piece. even if you leave 1 arm in there it'll grown into a full star.

 

[CanuckReefer]

They clean the tank , some like em, I personally dont. Yes, get rid of any pieces you see, or the spread WILL happen, as it has here, and they are difficult to eliminate without a harlequin shrimp.

 

[mysaltwatertank]

yeah carefully comb thru the ball before you add it in - some hitch hikers like bristle worms and feathers are good but these asterinas are bad - when removing take care to remove the whole piece. even if you leave 1 arm in there it'll grown into a full star.

Didnt even think about bristleworms coming from this- I know they are okay in general but I would avoid those also. Happy to have avoided them so far on this tank build for the most part. A few feathers would be nice though.

 

[Phil D.]

Here's the thing, most Asterina are algae eaters, because this one was in your chaeto, I would say it's an algae eater. I have them in my tank all over and have no issues with them. I got a Harlequin Shrimp to control them and now the numbers are manageable.

 

[CanuckReefer]

Here's the thing, most Asterina are algae eaters, because this one was in your chaeto, I would say it's an algae eater. I have them in my tank all over and have no issues with them. I got a Harlequin Shrimp to control them and now the numbers are manageable.

Phil, I've got say 20 or so on any given day if I scour the 90 gallon....enough for a harlequin to be sustained long term or no?

 

[Dkmoo]

Bristles get a bad rap. I like mine, have probably 300 of them in my 29g. Contributes to my stability. I never have to worry about being "accurate" when I target feed corals bc they clean it up.

But, you do you. =). Not having them isn't immediately detrimental. More diversity of filter feeder is always more helpful for stabily - It probably will eventually get into your tank one way or another as the tank matures anyway.

Just becareful about fireworms, those are the bad ones.

 

[mysaltwatertank]

Bristles get a bad rap. I like mine, have probably 300 of them in my 29g. Contributes to my stability. I never have to worry about being "accurate" when I target feed corals bc they clean it up.

But, you do you. =). Not having them isn't immediately detrimental. More diversity of filter feeder is always more helpful for stabily - It probably will eventually get into your tank one way or another as the tank matures anyway.

Just becareful about fireworms, those are the bad ones.

Yes I agree, had a few bigger bristleworms years back and tried to remove them from our 30g in a panic before learning about them. I have seen a few small ones with the lights out in this tank, so I know the bristleworms are there, but I prefer to not to add anymore.

 

[gpd124]

I struggled with Asterina’s in my last setup.
They multiplied like crazy and I didn’t care for the look.

 

[mysaltwatertank]

I struggled with Asterina’s in my last setup.
They multiplied like crazy and I didn’t care for the look.

Thank you

 

[mysaltwatertank]

Bought my first ball of chaeto and this guy is in there. Save it?? Its a starfish

And they are now gone (found 2 total). TY everyone for the help!

 

[Phil D.]

Phil, I've got say 20 or so on any given day if I scour the 90 gallon....enough for a harlequin to be sustained long term or no?

Let the population increase to about 150 and you'll be fine, they will populate faster than 1 Harlequin will eat.