Asterina Star

[BigBlue187]

I was lookng my tank over tonight and noticed something on the glass. It was a tiny three legged star. So I looked it up and found some stuff out about them. I read that they can be harmless and just graze on algae. Then I read that they muiltiply fast and they can graze on your corals. I really don't want that.

So I was just woundering what you guys think. Should I keep it or just take it out.

 

[got2lb]

I have tons of them. I've never noticed any of them grazing on corals, but I have noticed them all over the glass and rocks grazing on algae. If you don't want them take it out now or you'll have hundreds very soon!

 

[Duke13]

If you have some you want to get rid, I'll be glad to take some. In fact, I will give you some Kenya Tree and Xenia for your troubles

 

[BigBlue187]

Sorry I'm going to keep it I just wanted to make sure it wasn't going to eat my corals.

Thanks for the quick replies.

 

[got2lb]

If you want some of mine i'll gladly give you some! I can count over 30 right now just on my glass. You can keep the kenya tree but I wouldn't mind a frag of xenia once my tank gets going good again!

 

[jbrunken]

Wanna trade for some stomatella snails?

 

[got2lb]

I'm sure we can figure some kind of trade for them!

 

[Lori M]

Al- you just live down the street from me. I had two that were soo cute, now I have over 300 in my tank. Let me know when you want some.

 

[Duke13]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9371758#post9371758 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Lori M
Al- you just live down the street from me. I had two that were soo cute, now I have over 300 in my tank. Let me know when you want some.

Heck yeah, I'll take some. You can take all the Kenya Tree and Xenia you want

 

[Duke13]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9370905#post9370905 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jbrunken
Wanna trade for some stomatella snails?

I'll trade you

 

[tibbs2]

I have a few asterina stars but they haven't mulitplied that much that I can tell. If you don't see the stars on your coral then I'd keep it. What has muliplied for me are the mini brittlestars. Those things are lurking all over in my rock.

 

[DSMpunk]

There are many different types of aterina stars. Just keep an eye on them as most likely they are just algae grazers but some type will eat corals.

I have the pleasure of having some of the zoanthid eating type.

Yay.

 

[whome]

Have you checked out the pics and article at http://www.garf.org/
under Aquarium Pests on SPS eating starfish? They look a lot like asterinas.

 

[Steph1643]

We used to have a tank with 1000's of them that ate most of our zoos. Finally, we bought a harlequin shrimp and he ate all the astria's!

 

[glaspie69]

Steph sorry to hear that....but it must have been cool watching that harlequin having lunch, they had a show on discovery and it showed 3 or 4 harlequin's taking down a crown of thorns....looked like it hurt

 

[Diablitaroja]

Zoanthid eating types you say, DSMpunk? I may have never mentioned this to anyone but Ryansholl, but I hate with a fiery passion all the zoanthids in my tank....if perchance you're sure they're zoanthid-eating, I can be sure I'll take a couple. Let me know ;-)
Rachael

 

[glaspie69]

gotta love the ladies

 

[DSMpunk]

Oh I am sure they are the zoanthid eating type. In fact they LOVED the pink and green zoas that Ryan likes so much.

Ok so Ill trade you all of my zoa eating asterinas for a frag of that purple bonsai you have. Thats fair right?