Good or Bad Creature

[strout]

I posted this here because all I have in my tank are Zoas and polyps and I need to know if this is good or bad for them. I have a new creature in my tank ( that I didn't buy) Its a star fish, small, I would say about 2/3rds the size of a dime, kinda greenish in color. It was on one of my zoa frags, do I need to get rid of this creature??? I went to get the camera and get a pic to post and he was gone.

 

[gflat65]

Sounds like Asterina stars. Some are reported to eat some inverts, but I'm not sure I've ever actually experienced that. Like bristleworms, though, they will eat dead or struggling tissue, so something to watch. If you see one, you like have a good bit more. I have them in most of my tanks and they don't seem to be big troublemakers, but other have differing experiences...

 

[JuliusJames]

I wouldn't take the risk. Place it in your refugium or sump

 

[zoadude]

the green tinted ones are known to eat zoanthids, mainly palythoas. There are many different kinds of them. If you do a search you will find that there are reports that even non-aggressive have been known to become opportunistic feeders.

 

[zoadude]

http://www.zoaid.com/index.php?module=Gallery2&g2_itemId=1426

 

[strout]

I have only seen the one, and if I see anymore, I will get them out of the tank. If I have more than a few, the answer to get them out of the tank, is remove them one by one?

 

[jjmg]

As zoadude's link tells you most are reef safe. I would probably do a bit more research before trying to wipe out an entire species from my tank.

 

[zoadude]

they can spread really fast so keep an eye out on them. I started to loose polyps of different palys when I noticed them. Took a couple months before I was able to rid them all once they stared to spread. When I saw a colony of palys not opening I would check them over very carefully and find them attached. I am extra careful now when dipping new corals to say the least.

 

[bjhubb]

I've heard that porcelain crabs will eat asterinas, although they will eat other starfish, too.

When we get our sump in we are thinking about putting the serpent in there and getting a porcelain for a little while to clear out or at least thin down our asterinas. When they are under control, trade the porcelain back in and put the serpent back in the DT.

In the meantime we just pick them off when they get on the glass or easy to reach. We had a small zoa colony get eaten by an asterina.

 

[teddyb]

Asterinas finished off my VDM's, I hate them. I just got another frag on Friday and today a huge one was already munching on them. I hate those stars.

 

[Guygettnby]

when in doubt take them out until you can identify them. i always take them out of my tank when i see them. it is never worth taking the chance with your corals.

 

[strout]

The one that I know I have, I haven't seen him again (been looking hard) but hes out of there when I do.

 

[Guygettnby]

they are so small that you just have to take them out as you see them. they are pretty hard to hunt for :lol:

 

[strout]

Just to let you know Guy, I lost my frag of purple Hornets. I have come to the conclusion that my MH lights are the problem. I think they were getting to much light for where they were placed in the tank. All my frags for the most part look good, they just aren't putting out any babies so I redused the times on the MH lights to see if that helps.