Is this Starfish Bad???

[nanytech]

Can someone let me know if this starfish is harmful to a reef tank? I want to know if I need to bust out my scuba gear and dive into my 28g to hunt these guys :uzi:

Thanks

[adamstipo]

Looks like an asterina star, perfectly fine. Have been known to nip on zoos though.

[nanytech]

I love this community. My questions are answered before I even get a chance to review them :bounce1:

Thanks guys

[Ceebuano]

Looks like an asterina star, perfectly fine. Have been known to nip on zoos though.

i heard they nip on other sps corals too, and they can get outta control if the population is not kept in a manageable level.

[nanytech]

I don't have any SPS. Just a bunch of Xenia and some new zoanthids.

Maybe they'll be good to keep my Xenia population in check, or should I get harlequin shrimp?

[Ceebuano]

how are your zoas and xenias so far?

IMHO the trick with Harlequins is when it obliterates the Asterina from the tank it would require you to provide it with live starfishes to eat...also for water quality it might tend to spikes in params,since Harleqs drag the starfish to hard to reach spots then eat the decomposing starfish there.

[nanytech]

There has been no observable effect to both the Xenias or Zoanthids.

These things are about 1/8" in size and don't seem to get bigger.

[sczlars]

I remove them from my tank. For a while I did, then thought they would be ok so I let them be, then I caught one munching on my birdsnest coral, so out they go.

[jrp1588]

I've had them for ages, they don't bother anything in my tank.

[billdogg]

Almost certinly an asterina - almost all of which are perfectly safe and reef friendly. Leave it be unless proven guilty. There will be plenty more little things you will find as well. Unless you see them do something bad, most little critters are a normal part of a healthy reef system.

[nanytech]

Thanks for all the inputs. I guess I'll leave them be for now, since I've only spotted about a dozen or so. Love your signature, billdogg. In fact, I think I'll post it on my office door.

[crvz]

what size is your tank? If the population does get rather large, consider adding a harlequin shrimp (or pair) to get it in check. They eat exclusively starfish, and I've had success with that in the past.

[snorvich]

what size is your tank? If the population does get rather large, consider adding a harlequin shrimp (or pair) to get it in check. They eat exclusively starfish, and I've had success with that in the past.

Yup, Harlequins work well. After the asterinas are gone, and they will be gone for sure, you can maintain the harlequin by feeding starfish legs. The starfish will regenerate if kept in the sump.

[nanytech]

I have a 28g nano cube, and it's sitting in my office at work, so I can monitor it every weekday. I am thinking about getting a harlequin just for its looks. I hope the starfish population does explode so I can do what you guys suggest, keep them in the back sump as food for the harlequin.

[tmz]

You can contol them by keeping nutrients low. There easy to shipon out with small airline tubing with a rigd end. They are usually out on the live rock and glass in the am just after the lights go on . The small tubing creates good suction and draws little water. The water can be reused when your done.

[aleonn]

My asterinas multiplied quickly, munched on coralline, and bothered my zoanthids. I'd remove them, or at least move them to the sump.