Help - Good or Bad Starfish?

[falconut]

I have recently found a couple of these little guys in my tank:

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/show...hp?photo=157000

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/show...hp?photo=157001

As you can see they are small, that is a tube of super glue next to the one. Not the greatest photos, but hopefully it's good enough.

My tank is a little over a year old and I only recently noticed them. They are hard to notice, since they blend into the coraline covered rock.

Please can anybody tell me if they are Good or Bad. I don't want to leave them if they'll eat my corals. If they're safe then they can stay.

Thanks.

 

[chrismunn]

ther's no pictures there?

 

[falconut]

Try this:
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=157000&papass=&sort=1&thecat=500

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=157001&papass=&sort=1&thecat=500

If they don't work, they are Starfish1 & Starfish2 in my gallery. I'm having problems with my posts tonight.

 

[Brenden]

They are coral eaters.

 

[Freed]

Is that why I have thousands of these in my tank but none of my coral is being affected by them?

 

[Brenden]

Argue with the scientist not me.

"Several people have argued that these starfish are harmless, but we have yet to find any that will not eat coral polyps. It is our recommendation that if you discover this type of starfish in your reef aquarium that you remove it as soon as possible. We have documented these type of starfish eating small polyp stony corals, Xenia , green stars, and several types of soft leather corals."

http://garf.org/STAR/starfish.html

 

[Freed]

Who's arguing? I am telling you what I know from first hand experience. Could Garf be wrong? HHHHMMMM??? Oh yeah and they're not scientists they are coral propagators into the selling of corals who have written alot of articles for their web site.

 

[jpslickorocks]

that is a heated discussion from what I have seen on here. That is an astrina star. I have a few of them myself and they seem to be fine. I plan to leave them be till I am givin reason otherwise. I have first hand seen the trail they leave on my tank glass from the grazing they are doing. I vote safe

 

[Freed]

They only eat algae/diatoms.

 

[Anemonebuff]

I have hundreds of asterina stars with no problems. Some may not be reef safe, so you may want to watch them for a while just to be sure.

 

[ftnirishfan]

I vote safe also, nothin to lose sleep over.

 

[rich99rich]

I have literally hundreds of these in my tank. The only thing I'm certain they eat is coralline, as I can see their marks in my rocks.

 

[The_Nexis_One]

I too have hundreds in my system - and I have hardly any coral..... so.. I would pose the same question to you that A.Calfo posed to me when I asked him at a seminar... if you have little/no coral and they are still multiplying - what are they eating? ... algae... and for that - they not only can stay, but they get the royal treatment

Vote: Safe

Mine are red/white. I've seen info on Bob Fenners site where he has lots of pictures and info about the bad ones - they seem to be tan or grey in color.

Bottom line is if they are there and multiplying - but you haven't lost any coral yet - then they must be eating something else.

Best of luck
John.

 

[GARFVolunteer]

Just use common sense with the star fish. If you catch it munching on corals or bothering something that you care more for, remove them. If not leave them alone.

Here is the reason I got rid of mine. Harlequin shrimp took care of them:

http://www.idahoreefs.org/Meetings/reef-pests/predetorystarfish/predatorystarfish.htm

Saying all starfish are reef safe is kind of like saying all dwarf angels are reef safe...

Thanks,

Scott

 

[BigReefing]

are white starfish bad. I have white little ones.

 

[reefshadow]

Have hundereds of these, all my corals are thriving.

 

[The_Nexis_One]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6845012#post6845012 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BigReefing
are white starfish bad. I have white little ones.

I believe that there is suffient variation in this critter that we can't say "white ones are bad" or "red ones are bad" etc.

If you have a bunch of these in your tank and your corals are doing well - then don't worry about them.

If you find them munching on your corals - then you'll have to remove them or get something to remove them for you.

Just keep an eye on them.
John.

 

[jasper24]

FWIW I have white ones that clean the glass and I never see them on LR or corals. Then I have some bluish / gray ones that I have seen on LR and corals in a suspicous manner. So don't just say yea I have them and they do not eat corals. There are different types folks.

 

[Ironman]

I was just going to post the same thing.

I have several dozen little brown ones in my tank and my lps and sps are fine, I was just a little concerned as they multiply so quickly.

I'll take the advice given and monitor them closely.

 

[Loralie]

I have hundreds in my system as well and my corals are growing and thriving. To minimize number I bought 4 small Harlequin shrimp which have tripled in size from the starfish buffet I have. They keep the numbers in check and they are a beautiful addition to the tank. I am not concerned with over population of the stars nor with the stars being wiped out as the 110 gallon fuge also has tons of these that can reproduce