What kind of Starfish (1 Viewer)

[stealthfightrf17]

I found a very little starfish, smaller then the tip of my pinky in the tank this morning and was wondering what it is and how to care for it. I can not take a picture of it because it is to small, so I drew one to give an idea of what it looks like. It has a black dot in the center and black lines down each of the 5 legs

 

[gabe_j]

Asterina starfish they are harmless unless they get crazy in your tank then you get a harlequin shrimp! Lol

 

[stealthfightrf17]

how big will they get?

 

[merkurmaniac]

They stay really small.

 

[gabe_j]

Are the arms all lopsided? If so they are prolly asterina.

 

[crvz]

1/4" in size or so, and theyre very often not symmetric. They can sustain large populations as most of them eat film algaes. I've read some reports of them as pests on zoanthids, but I think that's an extreme exception.

 

[trb]

1/4" in size or so, and theyre very often not symmetric. They can sustain large populations as most of them eat film algaes. I've read some reports of them as pests on zoanthids, but I think that's an extreme exception.

They have just about killed every zoa frag I've put in my tank. I peel a few of them off the polyps just about every day and I've lost a good $40 worth of $5 frags. The frag I got at the picnic a couple of weeks ago is now down to 4 or 5 polyps, from well over a dozen, all due to these @#$%^ stars! I think I may have to get a harlequin shrimp and give it a try to get rid of the @#$%^&s.

 

[r_jay]

def. asterina, dang trb...hold a grudge? lol, harlequins are beautiful though, might be a nice addition. I am starting to think my zoas are being eaten as well but not sure of the culprit.

 

[gabe_j]

hey man be aware that once you've got the harliquin shrimp you'll have to get a couple of starfish to keep in your sump that you can break the arms off to feed your shrimp cuz they only eat starfish. lol.

 

[r_jay]

true gabe, but i hate tearing the arms off anything though, i empathize too much with all creatures... even ones without brains. lame, i guess i should stop buying zoas...

 

[trb]

hey man be aware that once you've got the harliquin shrimp you'll have to get a couple of starfish to keep in your sump that you can break the arms off to feed your shrimp cuz they only eat starfish. lol.

That's why I have hesitated on getting one. I have an orange linkia in the top tank, and I don't really want to move him to the bottom tank. I figure if I do get one, once the stars are gone, I'll return him to the LFS so someone else can buy him. But I doubt they will be totally gone.

 

[gabe_j]

yeah chopping limbs isn't really for the squemish lol.

 

[rxonco]

Much cooler to toss the whole star in the tank and watch the shrimp go to work. Amazing to see how fast they can flip it over and drag it into their den.

 

[gabe_j]

ohhh that would be cool!

 

[m_tw]

or you can donate the starfish for my harliquin

 

[mwilliams62]

I guess I am lucky for now I have a ton of those tiny starfish and they have not hurt any of my corals but when they do they will be gone.