Zoa's and mini-Starfish

thecostas · Feb 6, 2016

Hello!! So we just added zoa's and two other type of soft corals to our tank. We dipped as directed. Today we noticed this little guy in our tank. There a mixed reviews on whether or not they will kill my new babies!!!! It's super cute & hubby wants to keep him but I am attached to my zoas and am on the fence.

Advice, thoughts??

Starfish:

Corals:

NanaReefer · Feb 6, 2016

It has been my personal experience that the solid white Asterina Stars have posed no threat to my Zoas at all. I've got plenty! I've only seen them munching on the green algae on the rock/glass/equipment. Therefore IMO harmless.

Dec · Feb 6, 2016

Don't know if they hurt Zoas but they will spread quickly and can get annoying. Some consider them a pest.

joshkirkland83 · Feb 6, 2016

Ive watched colored ones eat my fruit loops.

NanaReefer · Feb 6, 2016

Dec said:
Don't know if they hurt Zoas but they will spread quickly and can get annoying. Some consider them a pest.

Curious...how are they annoying?

Dec · Feb 6, 2016

I don't like them they get everywhere and they get on my leathers and make them close up.
Have seen them on my Zoas and palys I pull them off ASAP so don't know if they hurt it or not.

LFS said they were considered a pest.

brandon4432 · Feb 6, 2016

I've had them in my tank, the same species as yours, and I've had them eat my Zoas. They wait till night when they close up and then crawl on top of one polyp and much away. Fortunately I removed them fast enough and after about a week and a half my polyps recovered and opened up slightly

Dec · Feb 7, 2016

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/proof-asterina-starfish-eating-zoas.57317/

thecostas · Feb 7, 2016

Thanks everyone!

WVReefJunkie · Feb 7, 2016

I had so many that multiplied in my 220 Gallon tank that I night you could see hundreds on the glass. I have observed that when Zoas are vulnerable the asterinas will eat on them. I have added a harlequin shrimp a few months back and have not had a problem.

Mark3 · Feb 7, 2016

Myself, I consider them a pest...What I noticed, was the purple on my rocks was disappearing, so I watched... first thought it was emerald crabs...they picked at it some and maybe part of the problem, but noticed the stars looked as they were taking away the purple. I really noticed it when looking at some old photos, rocks were covered with coraline algae, solid purple and now they have lost much of their purple....it might still be another reason besides than the stars, but we will see after their numbers have been decreased. I don't think my tank is as healthy as it was 6 months ago. Trying to change things to get better, and sometimes is gets worse.

They are not any problem until they multiply too mass numbers....I have around 1000 of them in 125 gallon
I never had them hurt anything other than the nice purple algae