An observation on a Asterina problem I have.

[Reef-o-Roni]

I've been overrun by Asterina starfish and have had some eating on my zoo's and palys.
I have ones that are all white underneath and also have ones with a dark mouth.
Every single one Ive picked off my polyps have had the dark mouth.It's a rusty red color.So watch them on the glass and deal accordingly.

On a side note does anyone know where to get bumble bee shrimp?

 

[tankfly]

Live Aquaria is the only place I have seen them. But showing none in stock right now.

 

[AZBigJohn]

You can call tropical treasures, if your anywhere near Phoenix they frequently have them

 

[saintsnsinners]

Oops....nm.

 

[82ndengineer]

Are you sure Big John. I haven't seen anyone in town carry an actual bumble bee shrimp. You might be thinking Harlequin shrimp which are far more common.

 

[AZBigJohn]

Oops, I retract that. I read that three times, and saw bumble bee snail, not shrimp. My apologies.

 

[Reef-o-Roni]

Wonder if anyone in town could order them.

 

[zrogst]

Aquatouch regularly orders Bumblebee shrimp for customers. Call and ask for Donald on the weekends - they are incredibly small shrimp though I think they would get lost in a 125 if your signature is up-to-date. Recommend removing your decorative stars and getting a harlequin for a month or so.

 

[Reef-o-Roni]

Cool,Thanks!

 

[sweet2004r1]

Oh i had the same issue!!! they were fine for years and then all the sudden they were zoa monsters. I ended getting a harlequin shrimp.

 

[defchild84]

Aquatouch regularly orders Bumblebee shrimp for customers. Call and ask for Donald on the weekends - they are incredibly small shrimp though I think they would get lost in a 125 if your signature is up-to-date. Recommend removing your decorative stars and getting a harlequin for a month or so.

+1, and yes Donald would be your guy

 

[dream54ing]

Oh i had the same issue!!! they were fine for years and then all the sudden they were zoa monsters. I ended getting a harlequin shrimp.

I have so many, hope they don't turn on my. They've been good to me the past 8 years!

 

[tcamos]

Luckily most asterina species don't eat corals so 99% of the time we're fine with them but every so often one will hitchhike in that likes to munch on soft corals.

I'm glad they are so easy to remove. I've never really thought about getting a shrimp to eat them because I always wonder what will happen when all the asterina are gone.

I've never kept a harlequin simply because of what's required to keep them. Are bumble bee shrimp the same or will they scavenge on non-seastar food?

 

[Beefy_Reefy]

Supposedly they will eat meaty foods if you target feed them. That is if you can find them. They are tiny.