caja Posted June 25, 2003 Share Posted June 25, 2003 This little guy hitchiked in some GSP that I got from Reeflabs.com. Any ideas on the type of starfish? Right now he's confined in a pyrex measuring cup till I know if I can toss him in the tank. Thanks! Link to comment
caja Posted June 25, 2003 Author Share Posted June 25, 2003 Bottom. He's growing three new legs. Link to comment
jdsabin1 Posted June 25, 2003 Share Posted June 25, 2003 I believe this is an Asterina spp. Almost all are harmless in the reef tank - they eat detritus. I've got them in my tank without a problem. They seem to reproduce by fission, as they are often irregularly shaped with varying numbers of missing or half grown legs. I love 'em. Link to comment
FlyGTI Posted June 25, 2003 Share Posted June 25, 2003 I just inherited a few of these the other day. Hope they'll populate soon, or I may have to raid your tank, Jeff! Link to comment
DeskJockey Posted June 25, 2003 Share Posted June 25, 2003 Well I know not all asterinas eat coraline but many do. If you start seeing white spots on your coraline then you might want to start plucking them off your rock & tossing them. Little ones make small irritating white spots but large asterinas can clear a huge patch of coraline over night (its happened to me). Once they run out of food they can prey on some stony corals but not all will do this. Link to comment
powerofslack Posted June 29, 2003 Share Posted June 29, 2003 There is a big article on GARF (www.garf.org) about these tan asymmetrical fission dividing starfish being ravenous coral predators- they have quite a few high res pics with the article and they look a lot like what you;ve posted; you should tak a look at the article and see what you think- hope this is helpful! Link to comment
caja Posted June 29, 2003 Author Share Posted June 29, 2003 Thanks for all the respones. The starfish is gone. Link to comment
Crakeur Posted June 30, 2003 Share Posted June 30, 2003 I don't think the one you have is the same as the ones from the garf site. I had those stars in my 7 (and you might have picked the star up from me) and never once saw them near a coral. Did see them on the glass from time to time tho. No coral eating in my tanks. Sorry for passing it along to you, although I think it is a beneficial star and not a coral eater. Link to comment
caja Posted June 30, 2003 Author Share Posted June 30, 2003 Crak, he came in on a rock of GSP's that I got from Piero at Reeflabs. I emailed a pic to Piero and he said to ***sniff, sniff*** get rid of it, that it was a predatory star. I also had a bunch of other peeps tell me the same thing. Poor little guy - flushed to the great reef in the sky. Link to comment
Caius Posted July 2, 2003 Share Posted July 2, 2003 So that's what they are! Two of these stars hitchhiked along with the Astrea's that I recently purchased. It's hard to imagine that they are predatory when they're only 5mm wide. They seem to hang out at the top of the water line all the time. I'll keep my eye on them though and see what happens. Link to comment
hickncali Posted August 14, 2003 Share Posted August 14, 2003 your lucky, i seem to have the mutant stars, they have only 4 legs and not 5. so i have a bunch of X's running around my tank Link to comment
NepTuNe-UsD Posted August 17, 2003 Share Posted August 17, 2003 I have the same species of starfish in my tank. Definately is the asterina starfish. I know for a fact that the asterina eats coralline because of all the white spots they leave behind on my beautiful coralline. The only reason why I havnt removed them from my tank yet is because Im waiting to get some harlequin shrimp to devour them. Link to comment
jdsabin1 Posted August 17, 2003 Share Posted August 17, 2003 My Harlequin Shrimp do not touch those little asterinas at all. They eat larger, more substantial stars like chocolate chip starfish. You may want to rethink your plan. Link to comment
DeskJockey Posted August 18, 2003 Share Posted August 18, 2003 Ive seen harlequin shrimp eat asterinas so maybe its just a one of those things. You know, you want it to eat something but it just dont want to. Just like peppermint shrimp and aiptasia : Link to comment
caja Posted August 19, 2003 Author Share Posted August 19, 2003 I can't stand it...I flushed the poor little guy and felt really bad and you guys keep ressurecting him....Whaaaa! Link to comment
msf Posted September 11, 2003 Share Posted September 11, 2003 This critter went into hiding shortly after I took the picture... Should I remove him if I see him again? My tank is fairly young and I'm just now getting my first coraline blooms- I would hate to have it devoured. Please advise... Link to comment
Neon Posted September 11, 2003 Share Posted September 11, 2003 i think they eat coral Link to comment
hickncali Posted September 12, 2003 Share Posted September 12, 2003 i have a ton of those exact star fish, as i said they are mutants, but i have had no problem with them touching my coral at all. everyonce and awhile they are on the glass or behind power heads, but they seem to eat the brown stuff that builds up behind the power heads. thats all they do in my tank Link to comment
kennerd Posted September 13, 2003 Share Posted September 13, 2003 Harlequins will eat them: my 65 gal is now devoid of asterina stars, but they do prefer the larger, meatier stars, if they are available, eating them first. Link to comment
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