Can Starfish harm Zoanthids?

[Robka]

I found small blue starfish on top of Zoa's and many had closed up lately. Can they damage or harass them? I also found a strange looking small white snail with it's feeding tube stuck in the center of another Zoa (I removed this offender)

Thanks for your help,

Robka

 

[dalston]

It's more than likely an asternia (I have seen blueish looking ones) and yes they have been known to munch on zoas. If you have a pic it would be easier to tell for sure but as I said, some species of asternia are known polyp eaters. I just remove any asternia I see regardless.

 

[Marchingbandjs]

The blue asternia stars are the know polyp eaters, the white tend to stay on the glass, and eat coralline and other algae....

I would remove them quickly as they drop legs and reproduce very FAST.

 

[Robka]

Thanks for the info guys I have already started operation Starfish removal. Would it be alright to put them in my sump? It consist of live rock rubble and Chaeto macro algae.

Thanks,

Robka

 

[Marchingbandjs]

Ya, i have heard of many people doing this, i think... Ya i think they put them in sump... but then again they wont have much benificial purpose at all in there, so its really up to you.

 

[Johnny C]

FWIW, I didn't think my asternia stars were pests until they decided to chomp down on my purple hornet zoos. I just bought a harlequin shrimp and hoping he'll kill them... they are the devil! (BTW, mine were white... not blue)