Asterina Starfish?

[Big Hank]

Hi All,

My tank has an abundance of asterina starfish. I don't think that they are particularly harmful to any of the coral in the tank, but they have started to multiply in great numbers, and I want to try and nip the issue in the bud if I still can.

The way I figure it, I basically have two avenues of biological control available to me: (1) Picking them out by hand, or (2) Finding something that eats them. (1) has proven not to work. I pick them out by the bucketful, and they just keep coming back. I did, however, see some very nice harlequin shrimp at Jorel's store last week, and am considering one of those as a means to keep the population in check.

Have any of you tried using harlequin shrimp as a biological control for asterina? Has this worked for you? I would love to hear any perspectives on the matter. Will the asterina provide adequate nutrition for the shrimp?

Thanks!

 

[saintsnsinners]

I would get the pair he has for sale. once the sea stars are gone, you can trade them in or keep them and feed them chocolate chip sea stars. ime, asterina sea stars come out when the tank nutrient level is high. so check your nitrates.

 

[fijisrfr]

I had tons of asterinas so I got a harly. Figured it would take a couple of months to get them all. I couldn't believe it cleared them in just a couple of weeks! I then tried the chocolate chip in the sump chop off a leg a week program but the arms took too long to grow back. Ended up selling it to someone in need. You definitely should get one to clear your tank of asterinas. It will be no problem selling it when the job is finished.

 

[Big Hank]

Thanks so much for the responses!

S and S- I know that the little buggers are usually associated with high nutrients, and, really that's one of the reasons they freak me out so much. The parameters are testing fine, though, and none of the tank inhabitants are showing any stress. I think I might just be "lucky" to have so many little surprise guests.

I might buy that pair, and I like the idea of sending them along when their work is done. I am so freakin' soft, I am not sure that I could handle feeding them even regenerated parts of other star fish.

Are harlys pretty easy to catch?

 

[saintsnsinners]

Just drop a sea star in the tank and they'll come running. should be easy to scoop up. Sea stars, like some other inverts, don't have a brain or central nervous system, therefore they don't feel pain.

 

[Big Hank]

OK S and S, that's a good tip, I'll give it a try.

And of course you're right about the starfish anatomy; it's just a personal preference.

Thanks for your help!

 

[evolved]

Bongo shrimp will work even better, if you can find them for sale (the tricky part).