getting rid of asterina starfish

[marc nichols]

would be curious to hear what the bottom line is here. I'm not really bothered by all my hordes of asterinas, but having them gone would be good too. Of course, who wants the cure to be worse than the problem! Anyone want 'em? LOL

 

[tcoral]

would be curious to hear what the bottom line is here. I'm not really bothered by all my hordes of asterinas, but having them gone would be good too. Of course, who wants the cure to be worse than the problem! Anyone want 'em? LOL

I don't think that harlequin shrimp are worse than the problem. They're cute and have the stars running for their lives. When I went in to get some fish food Joe asked if I saw the stars all at the top of the tank, I said yes, and he said that that's because the stars sensed the shrimp were there.

I got rid of an existing H. tusk from my tank, now he was a problem, LOL.

 

[Saltwaternooby]

Just run the mag float back and forth to knock down the stars.

 

[tcoral]

Just run the mag float back and forth to knock down the stars.

acrylic tank, all I need is one of these guys scratching.

 

[HV1990]

Tina you could sell the stars as Harlequin shrimp food =)

 

[AlexandraU]

while i understand the threat of scratching your tank, i found that when a ast. star was knocked off *glass* it had about a 30% chance of dying....
please note this experiment took place trying to get them down so my shrimp would not go hungry.

 

[reefer209]

Can't you suck them off of the tank with the hose while doing a water change ? I'm sure the freshwater bath they get as they go down the toilet will kill them.

 

[mayjong]

how is this going?
any updates?
i'm having this issue, too (stars eating zoas) and am thinking about trying them.
wanna loan your out for a bit?
lmk....

 

[tcoral]

Mine still haven't gotten rid of all of them, but they are less. I think they'll come to a balance of predator and prey soon.

I have 2 shrimp in a 180gallon invested aquarium, it's down I'd say about 60-70%

 

[mayjong]

thanks-
they are eating only asterinia? (your not feeding other)?
also-how big are they?

 

[tcoral]

thanks-
they are eating only asterinia? (your not feeding other)?
also-how big are they?

Yes, only stars in there. They are around an inch+ I'd guesstimate.

 

[mayjong]

thanks, i'm picking one up today, tired of astrenia eating my zoas...

 

[mayjong]

he started shredding stars as soon as i put him in. great!

 

[RonMidtownStomp]

Siphoning off of the glass is a great way to get ahead in star killing. I feel pretty beast when I siphon out 100 or so at a time.

 

[bimmer88]

having the same issue... i have a blue linckia star and a sandsifting star so i won't be able to go the harlequin shrimp route... i'm just going to try scrape them off the glass with the cover of a CD jewel case every few days when the cover the glass...

 

[SchmittyG]

I have the same problem and NOW it finally makes sence. I wondered why my coraline wasn't growing and my zoas were disappearing. The LFS said they didn't bother the zoas, but I said, why is everything else doing good in the tank and the zoas disappearing. Im going to get a Harlequin asap. Is there any problems I should know about having a Harlequin in my tank. Right now, I have two clowns, a six line, two anemones and a minor CUC... Thanks! Excited about getting this problem taken care of.

 

[tcoral]

Wow, this post was resurrected right when I got more harlequins to take care of the problem in my new 180 (got another star explosion). Had a scare in that I thought one died in the bag, but ended up he shedded in the bag! (couldn't he wait to get home?) LOL.

 

[tcoral]

whooo hoo the stars seem to know and are heading to the high ground on the top corners of the glass! .

 

[CLeadfootS]

That makes it pretty easy to pick them out.

 

[Rudedog1212]

I was thinking of getting one then when all the stars were gone placing him to help others in their tank. I only have a few stars but that is too many.