Asterina stars eating my zoas

[luv4paws2]

I've just spent hours picking out hundreds of these evil little things with tweezers. I have noticed that the ones that are eating my zoas and star polyps are a little different color than the ones on the glass. Is there anything other than a harlequin shrimp that will eat them, maybe some kind of wrasse? Also it would have to leave my serpent stars alone.

 

[650-IS350]

Nope, most people use Harlequins very sucessfully to erradicate stars real quick.

 

[ficklefins]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15480938#post15480938 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 650-IS350
Nope, most people use Harlequins very sucessfully to erradicate stars real quick.

Actually, you could also try Bumble Bee Shrimp according to Live Aquaria. They also have the added benefit of not relying on just stars for food.
"The Bumble Bee Shrimp will feed upon the tube feet of echinoderms, but do not require them for survival. Offer them pieces of frozen meaty foods such as brine or mysis shrimp, cockle, or small pieces of fish. They should be offered these foods daily."

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+525+1969&pcatid=1969

 

[650-IS350]

Sorry I should have mentioned those as well. I know about those they're basically just like Harq's the reason I didn't mention them is that as He want's a natural control that will not go after his large stars , the bumble bee being the same mold as the Harqs might go after his stars...and not just the Asterinas hence I didn't add that as another source

 

[jok312]

do you have a sump? maybe you could put your serpants stars in your sump while the harlequin or bumble bees do their work

EDIT: guess it would be kind of hard to catch them, but just threw that idea out there

 

[double_g2k]

Bumble Bee Shrimp are a type of Harlequin I believe

 

[luv4paws2]

So that means the harlequins will take out my serpents? If so, they are really not that hard to catch and banish to the fuge for a while. They come running when I feed with Rods food How long would the shrimp take to de-starfish my tank, and would it be easy to catch it?

 

[650-IS350]

Crude way, break off a piece of the stars arm in a trap/cup they go in and have a hard time getting out enough time for you to crab the trap out.

 

[dkirchoff]

any pics of one? the trap that is

 

[650-IS350]

Just use a tall shot glass tilt it to the main rocks that the shrimp like to hang out at and bait it. same thing you do with bad crabs. the only thing though it that the shrimp can get out. having the tall shot glass may buy you time to grap and cover the top of the shot glass before they can attemp to swim out.

 

[dflad]

Has anyone proven that asternias actually "eat" zoanthids. Just like large copepods, I think that they may be preying on sick or dead zoas as well as the detritus that lives in between the polyps. We might just atribute them to dead zoas because we find them on the carcasses afterwards...?

I have asternia in my SPS only tank as well, they multiply and live, dont eat anything and are just fine...

Just a thought/discussion topic, not trying to derail the thread or make anyone angry, really looking for substantial evidence, as I have never "seen" an asternia kill a zoa, unlike the sundials or other predators.

 

[jok312]

i did hear that when food is low they will be found on zoas.. but in my tank all they eat is coralline algae... i got lots of that stuff so i'm not worried..

 

[650-IS350]

large copepods You have to experience it for your self.... I have and so have a bunch of other folks here on the forum, and other forums that I have seen. Same with the stars.

 

[bekindtoyurbuds]

Dflad, I'm with you

I've had the astrenia stars for a while (thousands of them), they do eat my coraline and they are on my zoa's and gsp, but I have never seen them actually eat or affect zoa's or gsp. the stars in my tank vary in color, but in the last year I have not see any ill affect to my zoa's or gsp.

I think that most people see them on the zoa's or gsp and freak out, but so far, with more than a years experiance with them I have never seen ill effects other than eating the coralline.

 

[650-IS350]

I'll say it again like I said it before...

You have to experience it for your self.... I have and so have a bunch of other folks here on the forum, and other forums that I have seen. Same with the stars

:rolleye1: :rolleye1: :rolleye1: :rolleye1:

 

[Timanator]

Any pictures of the ones that may eat zoas vs normal ones?

 

[650-IS350]

I usually notice the large ones about 1cm or more.... some with a stripe on it or with silverish coloring.