Found the mother Asterina

[kingdieselfish]

Was attempting to eradicate these by hand picking them from every rock and found this.

 

[mr.maroonsalty]

I've seen them pretty big, then they tend to split.

 

[rogersb]

That is huge, never seen one that big before.

 

[joshky]

I actually just saw one that large in my tank the other day, it shocked me.. didn't know they grew that large. :thumbsup:

 

[airtime23]

Are these "bad"?

 

[joshky]

Are these "bad"?

I don't think so, my zoas and palys are fine.

 

[m0nkie]

Are these "bad"?

some species are good. they help clean your tank and fish eat them

other species, specially the browner ones, may eat zoas and lps..

lot of times you see them sitting on colonies, causing it to close, but not eating it.

 

[R1ant04]

Are these "bad"?

the ones n my tank only eat coraline algae...I happen 2 like coraline.

 

[joshky]

the ones n my tank only eat coraline algae...I happen 2 like coraline.

Haha you can have all of my coralline algae then!!! I hate it!!!!!!!:lol2:

 

[kingdieselfish]

Reminds me of Patrick Starfish

 

[Laura8088]

Does anyone know of any critters specifically the eat them? I have them munching on my coraline algae and Im not happy about it =[

 

[joshky]

Does anyone know of any critters specifically the eat them? I have them munching on my coraline algae and Im not happy about it =[

Harlequin Shrimp, but you're probably going to have to supplement their diet when they eat all of your asterinas.

 

[bdare]

Harlequin shrimp eat them. Only problem is they only eat starfish. Once all the astrenia are gone you'll need to buy starfish to feed them. I used to buy chocolate chip stars. Once a week use bone cutters to cut off a leg and drop it in the display for the harlequin. I kept the remainder of the chocolate chip in my sump...

 

[anbosu]

I have a red linckia that I spotted eating one. Pretty cool, although I don't have a coral eating variety of asterina.

 

[dogface 13]

i had a ton in my tank, bought a Harlequin shrimp and he ate them all within a month. Then he ran out of food before i could find him :-x

 

[Laura8088]

Thanks!

 

[cleverbs]

yes they are coraline killers....Its rude, I had 100s and a large amount of them the size of this one. So I got 2 harlequin shrimp to take care of them...still have a few 100 left after a month of harlequins mowing them down.

 

[FraggledRock]

Haha you can have all of my coralline algae then!!! I hate it!!!!!!!:lol2:

can you mail me some? lol

 

[kingdieselfish]

I pulled out about 40 or so small ones and just the one this size on 60 lbs of rock