asterina

[da1jewfish]

well, it doesn't seem that the ones I have are good. My coraline covered rock is now bare bone! There are many of them in the tank now I various rocks and it is now noticable that they are eating coraline .
What eats these nusaince things other than harlequin shrimp? Or how can I get rid of them? They might be cool lookin from the outside, but they are just tearing it up! I should look into the harlequin shrimp, but I never remember seeing them before at any of my LFS.
Thanks
Bobby

 

[coralnut99]

They are relatively easy to pick off the rocks with a pair of 6 inch stainless steel tweezers. If you have a serious infestation, it could take you a while, but there's not a whole lot out there that will do them in that won't also take on your corals. They've started eating the coralline since it would seem they don't have much film algae to support them. A good quality pair of long tweezers is something you should have handy anyway.

 

[da1jewfish]

yeah there is pretty much only coraline. will those harlequin shrimp eat corals?

 

[da1jewfish]

I have been looking it up and it seems to be reef safe with the exception of eating starfish. They say they are finicky eaters and must have starfish and must be kept in pairs... as they are in the wild. Anyone have any experience with these cool lookin things

 

[coralnut99]

They don't eat corals, and unless you can commit to supplying a starfish arm every week or so, you'll be spending a lot of money to try and get rid of the asterinas. Like any pest will come back with the next coral you bring home.