Astera starfish and sps

fishguy597

fishguy597

Member
Do these little starfish eat the polyops and skin off of sps? I've noticed them sitting om them every so often around the base where aefw had munched on can they make them recess worse? I'm waiting for my lfs to get me a harlquin shrimp to start the buffee on them. Any other suggestions? Aefw, monti eating nudi's, and starfish oh my. Reefing is like random sex you never know what your gonna get lol.
 
Not all species of Asterina stars eat coral polyps and flesh. Most in fact won't. Make sure that they're not just feeding on the dead tissue that is left from the flatworms before you remove them.

I have a load of them all over my tank and they've never caused an issue with my SPS.
 
The only time I see these guys really active is when my glass has a little film algae on it. They tend to arrange themselves in a line on the edge of the glass where there is film algae. They seem to come our more at night as well. Based on what I observe, they seem to be more of an algae eater in my tank, but it could be different in other tanks.

Herb
 
Iwould get a Harliquin shrimp and they will take care of the Asteria Star, they will irretate the sps.
 
chefzif said:
Iwould get a Harliquin shrimp and they will take care of the Asteria Star, they will irretate the sps.
Click to expand...

I'd love to get a Harlequin Shrimp for my 90. Is it guaranteed to feed on Astreas? Will a 90 with a 20 gallon sump be enough Astreas to sustain one, or am I asking for trouble?
 
the harliquin shrimp will eventually eat all the starfish and unless u buy more it will die....

I have asteras in my sps tank with out any issues
 
Last edited:
I notice when my lights go on they are all over the glass. As the day goes on the move to the rocks. Whenthey sell cuc's what kind of starfish is it that come with them? I have enough in my tank to keep a harliquin feed for a year. Plus it seems they reproduce quickly. I have a 200 gal and they are almost to a plague poportion.
 
fishguy597 said:
I notice when my lights go on they are all over the glass. As the day goes on the move to the rocks. Whenthey sell cuc's what kind of starfish is it that come with them? I have enough in my tank to keep a harliquin feed for a year. Plus it seems they reproduce quickly. I have a 200 gal and they are almost to a plague poportion.
Click to expand...

Would rotating rock in and out of a sump be a possibility? Also they can breed and be a slow supply from the overflows.
 
Asternea

Asternea

Those stars are notorious coral eaters especially if they are blue or red I've kept harlequins too keep them at bay and or irradicate them. Then I feed them one chocalate chip star fish per week. Good luck:hammer:
 
msp307 said:
Those stars are notorious coral eaters especially if they are blue or red I've kept harlequins too keep them at bay and or irradicate them. Then I feed them one chocalate chip star fish per week. Good luck:hammer:
Click to expand...

hope u great great deals on chocolate chip star fish...otherwise it would get real expensive real fast!!!!

they are on sale at a lfs by me for $10...i don't see how one would justify the cost to as a food source

i have the red ones and they don't eat my sps
 
The starfish I have are gray and have a little white in the center. I have a ton of rock in my tank and my sump is loaded with equipment. They still get in there though. What would the purpose of puttingthe live rock in the sump?
 
fishguy597 said:
The starfish I have are gray and have a little white in the center. I have a ton of rock in my tank and my sump is loaded with equipment. They still get in there though. What would the purpose of puttingthe live rock in the sump?
Click to expand...

Mu guess would be to add extra place for beneficial bacteria to grow.
 
somethingphishy said:
hope u great great deals on chocolate chip star fish...otherwise it would get real expensive real fast!!!!

they are on sale at a lfs by me for $10...i don't see how one would justify the cost to as a food source

i have the red ones and they don't eat my sps
Click to expand...

I have seen them in action munching away at sps and zoos and I've kept my harlequin pair for 2 years and the chocalate chips usually last them about 2 wks. They are an awesome specimen that's why I keep them too and the starfish here cost me from 5 to 8 dollars depending on size.
 
It sounds kinda barbaric but one option is to buy a small group of CC stars and keep them in your sump. Then once a week or so, lop off a leg of one and huck it in the DT for the harlequins to munch on. They don't actually need an entire CC starfish.
 
Winwood said:
It sounds kinda barbaric but one option is to buy a small group of CC stars and keep them in your sump. Then once a week or so, lop off a leg of one and huck it in the DT for the harlequins to munch on. They don't actually need an entire CC starfish.
Click to expand...

The other option is for the Harlequin Shrimp to die. If the Harlequin Shrimp was left in the wild and found this starfish, it would be dead anyway.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

A
SPS Care and nutrient management help and advice?
2
Replies
28
Views
4K
BruceWayne
B
P
Maxspect Gyre 300 series and ICV6 review
Replies
7
Views
5K
pisanoal
P
L
diseases or just common fish spots?
Replies
3
Views
718
lapoza
L
F
Newer to the hobby.
Replies
0
Views
433
fishboys
F
W
Triton Results !!
Replies
9
Views
2K
jda
J
Back
Top