Help identifying these, please?

[SueAndHerZoo]

From time to time I think we've all found some of those tiny (1/4") white starfish on the glass of our tanks but this morning I woke up to find 7 of them... more than usual. Upon closer examination I noticed that all of them only had 3 arms. I find it hard to believe that all of them had lost two arms in an accident -- is this any type of creature you recognize?

Sue

 

[swannyson7]

Just an asterina starfish... when the arms detach, they grow into new starfish. They can proliferate in our tanks when PO4 & NO3 hit elevated levels, so just keep an eye on your parameters and they'll start to disappear

 

[epstein]

and watch your zoos and Montis....They love those

 

[mtc1966]

and watch your zoos and Montis....They love those

not all of them do

 

[SueAndHerZoo]

Just an asterina starfish... when the arms detach, they grow into new starfish. They can proliferate in our tanks when PO4 & NO3 hit elevated levels, so just keep an eye on your parameters and they'll start to disappear

Wow, really interesting - thanks! I thought I had somekind of evil starfish slasher in the tank removing two limbs from each as sort of serial killer signature. Guess I've been watching too many murder mystery movies. :lmao:

Funny about the NO3 and PO4, though, because now that I'm using NOPOX my levels have never been lower. Maybe they're all more visible because they're dying and trying to find greener pastures.
Sue

 

[swannyson7]

Funny about the NO3 and PO4, though, because now that I'm using NOPOX my levels have never been lower. Maybe they're all more visible because they're dying and trying to find greener pastures.
Sue

They can live in a low nutrient system, but they can hit plague proportions if your parameters are out of whack. They're detrivores, so when there's algae, you'll have tons of them. Some people claim that they'll eat zoas, although IME it only happens when the zoas are going downhill already. Regardless, I'd pull them out as you see them just to be on the safe side. If you look at your tank at night with a flashlight, thats the best time for hunting.

 

[ClemQuat]

we've had a few, there are different species of them and some DO Like Zoo's, We had to get rid of 1 because it kept going toward them when all the rest would stay on the rock/glass

 

[shayna123]

They also devour coralline

 

[Reefir]

i seen them eat pocilipora

 

[SueAndHerZoo]

So I guess the consensus is I should flush them when I see them? Or is there any benefit to tossing them in the sump?

Sue

 

[SushiGirl]

I toss mine in the sump when I run across them if they're on my corals. I leave them if I see them on a rock at the end of a trail of missing coralline, because that's what they're obviously eating.

 

[swannyson7]

I'd get rid of them. If you toss them in the sump and they get sucked into the return pump, the pieces that make it back into the tank can result in more stars. I toss them on the center braces and let them cook under the lights. :uzi:

 

[SushiGirl]

No way for ours to get sucked into the return pump.

 

[Reefir]

get rid of them

 

[mtc1966]

well i guess it comes down to what else you keep in your tank. my tank right now i have no problem keeping them around i have a few but theyare always on the rock work . never on my zoas.