What is this starfish?

[Strawberry]

It is near the top of that rock, about the size of a dime. Is it the type that eats zoas??

 

[ChaseB143]

It is near the top of that rock, about the size of a dime. Is it the type that eats zoas??

It’s an asterina star. Lots of people don’t like them, but there are several in two of my tanks, and they haven’t done any harm that I’ve noticed. You can pick it out if that would make you feel better. They will reproduce pretty quick.

 

[Brandonphem]

They are the worst things ever...jk jk that’s up to you most are harmless but they tend to populate pretty quickly so when you see them just remove them they do eat algae though

 

[Auquanut]

I agree . Asterina. Unchecked they can overpopulate quickly given the right conditions. Manual removal should be sufficient if you keep up with it.

 

[Strawberry]

Thanks guys, I will be sadly removing the little guy. I wouldn’t risk my zoas being eaten.

 

[Strawberry]

Do the bubbles on that rock look like bubble algae to anyone? I kinda thought it could be.

 

[BloopFish]

I'd say so. The photo is too blue to tell which type though.

 

[El_Guapo13]

Do the bubbles on that rock look like bubble algae to anyone? I kinda thought it could be.

To me, yes. It does looks similar to some that I have in my tank. Its a constant battle. That I am winning. Mostly do to a combination of emerald crab amd manual removal.

 

[Euphyllia97]

I actually like to watch them eat the algae away on the glass of my tank during the night... My fish don’t clean the glass, so these small asterina stars do the job.

 

[Strawberry]

I actually like to watch them eat the algae away on the glass of my tank during the night... My fish don’t clean the glass, so these small asterina stars do the job.

My trochus snails are some hard workers keeping my glass clean!

 

[Brian_68]

The are harmless until they are not. Eventually they started eating my zoas so I had to take measures to eliminate.