Acro eating star

[spanishmack]

i have been trying to work out why some of my acro has been getting tissue loss of late, caught in the act tonight, had noticed it last week on my clam but thought nothing of it/diversity. at lights out tonight found it on an acro, pulled it off, there was no flesh left where it was happily munching away. damn coloured sticks, more hassle than they are worth sometimes :lolspin:

 

[gon08]

It's an asterina starfish. Some are coral eaters others species are detritivores. I pull 5-6 out every morning from my tank.

 

[Spun1_2]

Be prepared for more. That starfish is missing 4 legs and each time it drops a leg a new starfish is born. I have tried to control these in the past with manual removal but I stopped worrying about them after reading lots about them. They dont eat living tissues as most would agree. They are primarily algae eaters. If your acro is having problems then it would be natural for this starfish to get a meal. If you can get them out while you still can do it. Otherwise a tank can be overpopulated over time.

 

[ryanrid]

get a harlequin shrimp or 2 they eat stars alive

 

[mike810]

Be prepared for more. That starfish is missing 4 legs and each time it drops a leg a new starfish is born. I have tried to control these in the past with manual removal but I stopped worrying about them after reading lots about them. They dont eat living tissues as most would agree. They are primarily algae eaters. If your acro is having problems then it would be natural for this starfish to get a meal. If you can get them out while you still can do it. Otherwise a tank can be overpopulated over time.

Harmless I thought also till I saw them munching away on my zoas

 

[JMa4290]

I had the same problem n i got me some harlequins n they were gone within a month =) Ill occasionally find a few but not too many to the point where i should be concerned =)

 

[spanishmack]

thanks for the replies, i'll just have to monitor and see if i can find any more, i'm guessing they are nocturnal, both times i have seen it is when the moonlights are on.

harlequins are very expensive and rare in australia, not something you can just buy unfortunately.