Told these may be problematic? asterina starfish

[Eienna]

I found this tiny starfish in my tank and some people are telling me it eats corals...? Can I get an ID on it?

 

[bjledbetter]

Not sure of there name but I've also heard that. Our lfs had some in his display and he would take them out and kill them when he could catch them on the glass

 

[Ozzy]

asterina starfish. I have them in my tank and have not had any problems. Just a common hitchhiker. Sometimes you get good ones, sometimes you get bad ones that munch on coral. Mostly your discretion to remove or leave.

Most of the time to good ones you just see on the glass. If you ever see any on your coral, then remove them IMO.

 

[Mr. E Wrasse]

Just like ozzy said its up to you. Some have issues some dont. I had issues... stupid thing ate my ultimate stag base so I hate them lol

 

[JSB]

I can only offer anecdotal experience of a friend. He found when his frag tank was running at lower light and low nutrient (meaning less algae) the asterinas started in on his coral, apparently in search of of additional algae source. When the tank algae started growing again, they went back to grazing on elsewhere and left the corals alone.

 

[Eienna]

So basically, they eat corals but generally when they're starving?

 

[JSB]

So basically, they eat corals but generally when they're starving?

Yeah, I think so, but your mileage may vary.

 

[GHill762]

Most will just munch up your coralline algae. I've heard its the ones with colored speckles that munch coral.

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[NanaReefer]

The pure white ones I have in my tank (there are many) have so far eaten only algae. From coralline to green/red turf they just munch all day. I have but 1 sps and so far they've not gone near it. I've only ever seen them on the rock/glass


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[Eienna]

It's kind of a brownish color on its back. I would have included that info except that I hadn't seen it from the back until I picked it up to get a good look at it.

 

[Mr. E Wrasse]

Most will just munch up your coralline algae. I've heard its the ones with colored speckles that munch coral.

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The one that ate my coral had greyish black speckles on it. It was the only one in the tank

 

[-Logzor]

I would definitely remove them if you can. Like others have said, they potentially eat coral.

 

[Eienna]

The one that ate my coral had greyish black speckles on it. It was the only one in the tank

No speckled on mine, so we''ll see what happens

 

[glb]

I'd remove them. Why take the chance?


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12g Nanoreef. Zooanthids, Ricordia, Star Polyps, Acans and two clownfish. CF Lighting, 75% actinic blue, 25% 10,000k white.

 

[Eienna]

Why? Because I'm not the sort to kill something that could prove innocent.

 

[DSP]

These starfish used to be considered completly reefsafe.Iv never seen one eat coral i have about 40 in my tank.Iv seen them on coral but that doesnt always mean there eating the coral.

 

[glb]

The only problem I see with keeping them is that they are hard to catch and if they start to become a problem, the more there are the harder it will be to get rid of them. Just my humble opinion.


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12g Nanoreef. Zooanthids, Ricordia, Star Polyps, Acans and two clownfish. CF Lighting, 75% actinic blue, 25% 10,000k white.

 

[Lilmatty5dimes]

i would burn everyone. they ate two colonies of zoas i had and basically if its expensive zoa said good bye while they are in there.

 

[shred5]

There are different kinds, some are bad and some are fine. Usually the dark ones like are shown on Garfs site are bad:GARF predatory starfish 11/25/01


and the littler white ones are fine.

 

[-Logzor]

That's fine if you don't want to remove them, but keep in mind our recommendation was to remove them as a precaution. In all likelihood they may not pose a problem. In my reef they were definitely the source of major issues, particularly eating at the base of my SPS. Took me well over a year to figure out the cause. In retrospect, I wish someone would have told me to remove them in advance of these issues. It would have saved many frags and colonies.