Asterina Stars question

[Neoz]

Well it seems I have had an explosion of Asterina stars lately. They are all over the front of my glass in the morning and particularly all over my Zoas and Palys. I know they aren't eating my Zoas but they sure are irritating them and keeping them all closed up.

Is there a natural fish or predator that consumes these. Manually removing them will take months.. :uzi: Just this morning my daughter quit counting after 100 and she wasn't even done with half the tank glass. That wasn't counting the rocks.. I have to have 1000's of these...

 

[museumguy]

Harlequin shrimp will eat them, but if you have 1000's it will take a bit before numbers are under control. Maybe cut down on feedings? I have other starfish that eat them, but only like 1 or 2 a day so that won't really help.

 

[reefman5511]

I usually siphon them out when doing a water change.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

certain wrasses will take Asterina

 

[Scott48]

i'd probly just toss in a couple harlequins and let them do there thing

 

[Neoz]

Are Harlequin shrimp going to be ok with the reef tank? I only feed once a day now. I started doing that about 3 months ago to get my Nitrates in check. 1000's might be a understatement. They are all over my rocks in every nook and cranny.

Gary what kind of wrasses. I have a Yellow Wrasse and he won't even look at them.

 

[Scott48]

They'll be fine in a reef tank..they will however eat any other stars you have any may consume some urchins in the adult stage if that helps.

 

[tmz]

Once the asterina are reduced in number the harlequins will starve unless you keep feeding them live starfish. When I had a large population of asterina, I siphoned them by the hundreds in minutes. I used some airline tubing (i/4 inch ) with a 12 inch length of rigid tubing on the end for reach. Just siphon in the morning just as the lights come on. They will come up very quickly without taking much water out.You can then just puor the gallon or two of water back in without the stars. They will eventually wane if you keep nutrients low and siphon for a few weeks.

 

[Neoz]

Then I guess I'll give that a try Tom. Sure don't want to have to continue feeding stars to the tank. Not to mention a Linka Star is on my list to get.... Thanks for all the suggestions....

 

[sedorusc]

I had a few hundred in my 30. would come home from work at night after all the lights are off and just pluck them out one by one with forceps. again mine was only a 30 and not a 180. took less than a week to drastically reduce their numbers

 

[tmz]

I plucked em for awhile with tweezers, it just took too long and some I couldn't reach. The rigid tube wand let me reach around quickly and thoroughly on the glass and rock work.. Total cost was about two bucks.

 

[Scott48]

If you want to just pull em from the tank you could find someone who has some harlequins so the stars arent wasted, JMO tho.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

Gary what kind of wrasses. I have a Yellow Wrasse and he won't even look at them.

I've seen hungry Macropharyngodon (leopard) and Halichoeres take small Asterina.

Reducing their food source (algae etc.) will help to naturally curb a population of Asterina.

 

[Kent E]

I have a theory that linkia eat astinas.

 

[Jacwil]

Ha!!! Good theory Kent!!!

 

[Neoz]

Now thats a great picture Kent. I want a Linkia but have been waiting for my Nitrates to drop some more.... Might be time....

 

[tmz]

I've seen hungry Macropharyngodon (leopard) and Halichoeres take small Asterina.

Reducing their food source (algae etc.) will help to naturally curb a population of Asterina.

Macropharyngodon meleagris:

 

[Brent Thomann]

I had 1000+ in one of my tanks. Added a Harlequin shrimp and they all slowly disappeared. So did the Harlequin shrimp though, couldn't catch him once they were all gone. Harlequin shrimps are also really cool looking!

 

[superkat]

I have a theory that linkia eat astinas.

:lmao: EXCELLENT.