killer starfish!

[knucklehead562]

ive had these little starfish in my tank now for about a year now, they popped up out of nowhere. one of these little bastards has gotten to be about an inch across and when i got home today i noticed one of my mushrooms was missing. then i looked over the same rock to see if the other mushrooms were ok and there was that damn starfish right over my mushroom. i didnt think starfish ate mushrooms but this one definitely looked like he was chowing down. what should i do, i took the biggest one out and quarantined him but there are a bunch of smaller ones in there still. the culprit is light beige with dark brown spots, looks kind of prickly. please help

 

[michael_cb_125]

There are many starfish that are highly predatory. Best thing to do is be safe a remove them.
~Michael

 

[HappySkittles]

sounds like a chocolate ship starfish?
known for eating corals
defiantly wanna get em out

 

[knucklehead562]

damn that sucks had these mushrooms ever since i started now that i remember. how do i get rid of so many starfish?

 

[michael_cb_125]

Pick them out by hand. Or (this is not for everybody) add a Harlequin Shrimp. They do a great job at ridding a tank of starfish. BUT once the stars are gone you MUST feed the shrimp a starfish every other week or so. Just something to keep in mind. But do NOT do it, if you are not willing to provide the shrimp a food source after the pest stars are gone.
~Michael

 

[hebygb]

best way is to pick out by hand as you see them. I dont believe that they become significant coral threats until they get about the size of an inch or so. When they get big... they will mow down a reef. serpents/brittles are fine in a reef tank.

 

[pjbusby]

There should be a loan a Harlequin program!