is this a pest or baby sea star? (1 Viewer)

[Achilles]

i cant figure out what this.

 

[steveb]

Looks like asterina stars. Some say they are a pest some don't. I have a few in my tank - they haven't seemed to bother anything. Just google the name its real common.

 

[DustinB]

Mine weren't a pest for a long time, then a year later they started eating my zoas.

 

[gabe_j]

once they become a pest... you buy a harliquin shrimp they are cool.

 

[DustinB]

I've been trying, not much luck locally... Trying to get a xmas wrasse too.

 

[Achilles]

thanks iv been picking them out but the more i pic out the more i find

 

[Achilles]

What will eat them? So I can get get them out.

 

[DustinB]

A harlequin shrimp will "likely" eat them, not 100% guaranteed though. The bad thing about a harelquin shrimp is if you want to keep it after it's done with the asterinas, you have to keep feeding it starfish as that is the only thing they eat.

Most people buy a chocolate chip starfish and cut off a leg at a time to feed the shrimp. Feeding the starfish a good meaty diet will allow it to grow the limb back somewhat quickly.

 

[Achilles]

Thanks I was starting to get mad. they showed up yesterday and so far iv picked out 19 of them.