I need an asterina eating terror wrasse of horror!

[mcoomer]

I don't hate them but I've got too many of these little buggers in my tank. I need to find a wrasse that will eat these little stars, won't eat shrimp, and doesn't need a sandbed for cover. I need something that can forage on rocks for pods in a well established 180 once the stars are gone. Let me get some recommendations please.

Mike

 

[BeanMachine]

I don't hate them but I've got too many of these little buggers in my tank. I need to find a wrasse that will eat these little stars, won't eat shrimp, and doesn't need a sandbed for cover. I need something that can forage on rocks for pods in a well established 180 once the stars are gone. Let me get some recommendations please.

Mike

Hey Mike I don't know of a wrasse that will eat them... I have a few in my tank and they don't anyway. In my case I got a harlequin shrimp, that's probably your best bet. Just watch when they diminish and trade or sell the shrimp to another reefer before it dies as that is all they eat... starfish.

 

[Sheol]

My T. lunare will not touch them. Or if he does, will not consume them. They are multiplying at a pace that would male a rabbit jealous!

Sincerely,
Matthew

 

[mcoomer]

Will a harlequin make a meal of my two brittle stars? I wouldn't like that at all.

BTW...where the hell is Waxahachie, Texas?

 

[lawboy888]

harlequin shrimp will do the job, after that just buy some star fish to feed the buggers

 

[sponger0]

Yes harlequins will take care of them. And they are cool to watch too

 

[BeanMachine]

Will a harlequin make a meal of my two brittle stars? I wouldn't like that at all.

BTW...where the hell is Waxahachie, Texas?

I don't think they care what type of starfish so yes I think so.

 

[teemee]

A pair of harlequin shrimp took care of my asterina problem in no time.

 

[Sheol]

Hmm, I'll see if I can get some.. Oh wait. My wrasse will DEFINITELY eat those.
Darn!
btw, Waxahachie, Tx? South of Dallas-Ft. Worth.

Sincerely,
Matthew

 

[lkc]

Coomer - Harlequin shrimp DO NOT eat brittle stars. You will be safe. But for God's sake, don't just plop a harlequin shrimp into your tank. Make sure it's compatible with your other charges.
Read here: http://www.chucksaddiction.com/harlequinshrimp.html

 

[mcoomer]

Coomer - Harlequin shrimp DO NOT eat brittle stars. You will be safe. But for God's sake, don't just plop a harlequin shrimp into your tank. Make sure it's compatible with your other charges.
Read here: http://www.chucksaddiction.com/harlequinshrimp.html

That's a great primer for these animals. No predators in the tank. The 180 is only two years old but everything in it was moved over from my 12 year old 125 so I'd consider it well established. Lots of coral and LR to climb on and hide behind.

Stopped by the LFS on the way home and they had two that weren't paired so I grabbed the smaller of the two. No spots on the abdomen that I can see so it appears to be a male. I've got it in an acclimation container right now in the tank and will drip for a few hours before adding it to the tank. For grins, I dropped an asterina star in and he seems to know what to do with them. Took about two seconds for the shrimp to snatch it up. Good sign. Now that I'm home I'm thinking that I should go back tomorrow and see if the other is a female and if so pick her up as well. Should have thought of that today.

Mike

 

[mcoomer]

Little guy walked around on the bottom a bit, climbed on some rocks, then grabbed a starfish and scuttled under a rock. I'm guessing I won't be seeing him for a bit.

Mike

 

[BeanMachine]

Ya he will mostly forage at night. I have lots of wrasses but he comes out once they are sleeping. I've been waiting till they are all gone but he is still kicking and there are more asterinas... Been maybe 6 months now.

Good to know about not eating the brittle stars. I just figured it didn't matter.

 

[ilikefish34]

this is how i got rid of mine although i know that these probably aren't the option for your reef. also, while i agree that the harlequins won't bother the brittle stars, they could be moved to the sump/qt for a bit if you're worried. good luck.

/Users/mikecollins/Desktop/IMG_0120.JPG

 

[ilikefish34]

sorry, tried to attach a pic of a chocolate chip star eating a asterina on the front of my tank. i guess i don't know how.

 

[SDguy]

sorry, tried to attach a pic of a chocolate chip star eating a asterina on the front of my tank. i guess i don't know how.

They will eat them, but they will also eat all sorts of other sessile invert. Be careful in a reef...