asterina(small white starfish) good or bad

[biecacka]

hey everyone i have noticed an increase in the asterina population in my tank. do these things cause any harm and is there any way to control the population of them? fish or something that eats them?
thanks
corey

 

[Dustin1300]

You'll find mixed opinions on this. I've had them since day one and no problems that I've ever seen. Population fluctuates and will see a spike in the population from time to time and then I will see a lower number of them. Kind of like the natural cycle and they will take care of themselves if population grows too high

 

[scuba guy ron]

They are bad in my tank. I've see them eating the coraline in my tank and from time to time ive caught them munching on my zoanthids.

 

[Dustin1300]

Coraline I've heard but had never heard zoanthids?! I could care less about coraline as it will just get covered back up

 

[biecacka]

i too have heard of them eating zoos. not sure though.
i have noticed a large increase of them in my tank in last month or so, with no change in my water parameters

 

[Dustin1300]

They tend to not go after coral and certain Astrea sp. starfish can eat coral. If populations spike and algae is not available they can start going after coral. I find them to be a good addition to my CUC and they are not going anywhere in my tank!

 

[Ilovesalt]

ive caught them them taking out my zoo's so now i just pick everyone i see out. good or bad i wont chance it anymore

 

[Dustin1300]

ive caught them them taking out my zoo's so now i just pick everyone i see out. good or bad i wont chance it anymore

The captured ones will just me filled in by the friend watching. Being asexual it will just split when it sees his friend get scooped up by you:spin2:

 

[SwampyBill]

I've had them in the past & heard differing opinions about them. I just picked them out with tweezers to be safe. Harlequin shrimp eat them, but then may starve once all the asterina's are gone, unless you feed them other starfish.

 

[biecacka]

ive have noticed a white colored one and a blueish one?
corey

 

[Sk8r]

I have lps and asterinas and have no troubles, ditto no problem with sps or mushrooms. It may be that they simply are not a good combination with zoas.

 

[fishhead2008]

hey everyone i have noticed an increase in the asterina population in my tank. do these things cause any harm and is there any way to control the population of them? fish or something that eats them?
thanks
corey

Awesome post as now I just learned what they are called as I had no idea before. I have them and was also wondering if they are good or bad? Excellent post here for me to follow!

 

[jc-reef]

Like the above posts...most are benefitial, but some may be preditorial. I have had a recent 'boom' in popluation in my tank. They can get annoying and out of control if you are not carefull. I have witnessed a tank that had a population explosion with thousands and thousands in there....it was an insane sight to see!!!

Personally, I have been picking them out if they are easily assessible during feedings or water changes or if I see one crawling on a coral. Most just seem to clean the algae off the rocks and glass.

 

[biecacka]

yeah i have put a few in my sump. i figure they would eat whatever gets by the filter sock and skimmer
corey

 

[aleonn]

I recently killed over 140 of them in my 37g. I still see a few here and there, and will go after the rest after the next water change. They munched on coralline and some of my zoas. Best to take them out imo.

 

[fishhead2008]

I think I will take them out as I notice they is definately starting to get more of them.

 

[gabe145]

I found one today, i inspect my corals and fish every time i add new ones, is there a chance it was only this one, and how do I get rid of them other than the Harlequin shrimp.

 

[crsswift70]

Have them and never had an issue. Are ya'll sure they were eating the zoas or just traveling and happened to be on them?

 

[James77]

I used to have tons of them, FWE wiped them out and I miss them.

 

[cvore2004]

I just realized that what started as a single in my fuge has turned into dozens. I also started noticing a bit of Coraline die-off. I'm thinking it's related. Probably going to have to get a Harlequin and hope my serpent star stays hidden :-/