Bad Starfish

[Russ Braaten]

I have heard people talk about those tiny white starfish being bad. I have a number of them in my tank and when it was easy to do I would remove them. From now in I will be a little more aggressive. I have finally seen what they do. I had a lot of coralline algae on my rock. Of late I have noticed white spots and thought it was bleaching. I figured I would see the white spots get larger but they didn't they just got more plentiful.

I saw a starfish in a flat part on the top of a powerhead and I figured I would watch what happens under it. Well it is the starfish that are causing the death of the coralline algae. The white spots on the flat plastic top of the powerhead were actually the shape of the starfish. Apparently the legs of the starfish work the coralline toward the mouth for it to eat and then left almost an X-Ray of the starfish.

Now I will kill all the starfish I find.

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

Those aren't the "bad" Asterina species then. There is a species of Asterina starfish that eats coral tissue. A little eaten Coralline Algae isn't bad in comparisson.

 

[SoonerFan732]

I have hundreds of those little starfish, they don't eat a little coralline algae, they eat a lot! I have white spots all over the tank from those little suckers. I pull one off and right underneath a white spot in the shape of that starfish. In some places the coralline dies of quite a bit due to their eating habits. I wouldn't call the damage they do to coralline a little. They have actually caused significant problems for my coralline algae. In some places it is completely disappearing. I can't remove them fast enough.

I understand your concern Russ.

Kevin

 

[Russ Braaten]

It is the Asterina starfish I am talking about. Depending on who you ask they say they are horrible or not that bad but no one really shows them causing trouble. No one ever shows them eating corals or what type of corals they eat. These white spots were driving me nuts and as far as I have seen I am the only person who describe the actual problems they cause.

Kevin, you are right they do eat a LOT of coralline. I have had them for a long time and now is the first time I see their destruction.

 

[captbunzo]

There are different types of asterinas. I have them that never touch a thing. Others have them that are more aggressive.

There are some great articles around which talk about them. Do a search on http://www.reefkeeping.com for more information.

 

[kpk]

I have them think and really enjoy them keeping the coralline somewhat at bay on my glass. I get sick of scraping...