Asterina Stafish

My Asterina Starfish have reached plague proportions.

I can't even remember when I introduced the first one. But it was only one and it was by choice.

I've been reading online and it appears that they eat coraline algae, or at least a film on the coraline and that is what causes the bleaching I've been witnessing.

Take a look at the numbers that appear on the glass in the morning before the lights come on...





I guess I'll start siphoning them up when I do water changes. Anyone had a similiar problem with these starfish eating coraline?

i've never noticed them eating coralline - but to every starfish his own

I have to say, the stars on your glass give your a tank a nice "late evening sky" look

I have tons of them in one of my tanks, maybe thats why there isn't much coraline algae in that particular tank. I always blamed it on the 2 Rock or Black Urchins which I know eat it, right down to the rocks.

Siphoning them is a PITA, better off just reach in and knocking them into a net or square plastic Tupperware container. I took one from my wife and cut the bottom off of it, glued some bridal Veil to the bottom and all I have to to is scrape it along the glass slowly and they fall right into the container. i did it one day and got over a hundred in 10 minutes.

Another way to handle them is to get a Harlequin shrimp, some times they will eat them instead of a CC star. I had one that would, I just had to supplement it with a CC star once in a while to let the population of Asterina's recover but once it ate the whole CC star it would start on the Asterina.

I like em. I have them in both tanks. I have a feeling if I got to many I would have to get something to get rid of them though. The shrimp is the best choice, but you always need to have them for it. If you run out of stars it will starve.

I have tons of them too but i dont mind. I like the odd things that i find and just leave them be.

I remember there was a post on here before that harlequin shrimp will eat them so maybe you could get one to keep them under control if you want.

I'm pretty sure they are responsible for my coraline never really taking off. There have been a few patches that pop up from time to time, then it mysteriously turns white. I've read a few posts that seem to indicate that these starfish are responsible.

I'm also noticing my GSP and one of my Zoanthids are retreating. And it might be a coincidence, but I'm seeing these starfish on the spots where the corals have disappeared/died-off.

I really don't know much about harlequin shrimps. But I imagine I'd be able to siphon a majority of these starfish out over the next couple of weeks. I took out over 100 today.

where does your CA usually test at???

I've suspected for some time that you won't get consistent coralline growth unless you are over 420, all the time with your CA and have your ALK in acceptable ranges...

When coralline is precipitating back into the water it will go white.

I consistently test high for magnesium and calcium. 450-465, 1440-1470. Never had a lower reading than that.

bad starfish!! OK - im with you - they are probably starving, and settling on your corals

the scraping them off the glass idea sounds perfect tho - then you can keep a few, they are good when you dont have too many

I removed 50 more by hand today. I wonder if anyone would be silly enough to buy these?

ya know........years ago when we started I bet I'd be that stupid to buy them since they're so cute and most lfs won't tell you that after a few years you'll have 'em anyway! ...we do have a lot of them but we still have coraline growing and haven't seen them on any corals....maybe we just have enough to feed them right now?

There has been a few debates on whether asterinas are bad for our tanks. In my experience they are not bad and I seem to always have them. When they grow in numbers I just suck them out while doing water changes. I don't have nearly the same amount in my 120 that I did in my 90. Must be something about that size tank........HMMMMMMMMMMMMM

Originally Posted by Barbara

ya know........years ago when we started I bet I'd be that stupid to buy them since they're so cute and most lfs won't tell you that after a few years you'll have 'em anyway! ...we do have a lot of them but we still have coraline growing and haven't seen them on any corals....maybe we just have enough to feed them right now?

I'm willing to bet in an established system the coraline grows faster than the starfish eat it. In a new system, the starfish are eating the coraline faster than it can spread.

Originally Posted by RCA

I'm willing to bet in an established system the coraline grows faster than the starfish eat it. In a new system, the starfish are eating the coraline faster than it can spread.

I believe that.....

Now I am wondering about some of my Zoas. I have beautiful colonies of Palys that have been doing wonderful. But a lot of my zoas seem to slowly disappear. Guess what is always hanging around on them. HHHHMMMMMM

Originally Posted by brebre929

I believe that.....

Now I am wondering about some of my Zoas. I have beautiful colonies of Palys that have been doing wonderful. But a lot of my zoas seem to slowly disappear. Guess what is always hanging around on them. HHHHMMMMMM

not to change the subject, but look closely at your zoas too - dip them, check for eggs, etc. Zoa eating nudis are almost impossible to find (as they get inside the zoa when it closes up and eats from the inside out) and if you are loosing 1 or 2 here and there - its a probable culprit

Originally Posted by estanoche

not to change the subject, but look closely at your zoas too - dip them, check for eggs, etc. Zoa eating nudis are almost impossible to find (as they get inside the zoa when it closes up and eats from the inside out) and if you are loosing 1 or 2 here and there - its a probable culprit

Dip and look. I have many of those stars, and they don't touch my zoas.


PS: nice new avitar pic Joanne.

I have recently found these little stars eating my zoanthids. I'm removing all of them I can. The ones I find on the zoas are usually really small. Just a couple cm across. They are definitely eating them though. I'm throwing all of them I find in my sump.