LF Asterina Stars (lots!)

[zrogst]

Figured I would give a shot in the dark with so many tanks in the valley... Does anyone have an Asterina Star infestation in their tanks? I just got a blue dot Harlequin and was hoping to feed Asterinas instead of Chocolate Chips while I try to train her onto frozen.

These are the little white stars that are usually on your liverock or glass. They have varying numbers of arms (they drop them to create new stars.) There are several species, I am fine with the algae or coralline eaters but not with known coral eaters.

AFAIK no retailers carry them, and no one purposely breeds them.

lemme know
-dan

 

[gwncpa]

Im close by and could give you a few.
PM me your phone number

 

[dream54ing]

I have a bunch. Pm me if you want to pick some up

 

[lostmyz]

Just get a chocolate star fish and keep it in your sump and cut off an arm ever few weeks to feed.

 

[zrogst]

Just get a chocolate star fish and keep it in your sump and cut off an arm ever few weeks to feed.

The sump and tank are being retired soon in favor of an AIO that doesn't have room for a captive chocolate chip. I'd rather the Harly eat whole Asterinas then slowly eat a large leg (excess nutrients in tank) but I might have to go that route if it isn't practical to keep stocked with Asterina.


Thanks to gwncpa and dream54ing, I'll message both of you and hopefully meet up sometime this week (or at PROP if you're going)

 

[lostmyz]

i had one and tried the Asteria thing... he ate them faster than they reproduced and eventually died

 

[zrogst]

i had one and tried the Asteria thing... he ate them faster than they reproduced and eventually died

I'm hoping I can train her onto frozen fairly quickly, otherwise it will be raw legs in my future.

She spent 2 whole minutes in the tank before hunting down my lone asterina, spearing it, and carrying it around like a macabre trophy. What an awesome little beast.

 

[82ndengineer]

I think starfish are an integral part of their diet and can't do without them.

 

[zrogst]

I think starfish are an integral part of their diet and can't do without them.

Yes, starfish are required. Something nicer about noshing on tiny white stars rather then a mutilated chocolate chip though, heh. We will see - I won't let her starve!

 

[dublo8]

I would have gladly overnighted you about 500 of them a week ago. I picked up a couple frags from a local here and I was INFESTED with them within a month. My coralline covered rocks are now brown/white/green rocks with a few spots of pink/purple. I hate those little bastard starfish and there 6-8 sometimes 3.27 legs. Lol.

 

[zrogst]

I'll be going to the prop auction today, so if either of you (or anyone else!) would like to bring any asterina stars, my harlequin will thank you! She has started wandering out of her den, so I'd like to stock the tank with stars tonight!

 

[Reef-o-Roni]

If it wandered out it's hungry.Get a choco-star,your tank wont produce enough asterinas to feed it.

 

[zrogst]

Out of advice, I picked up a meaty looking red fromia to feed.

 

[zrogst]

Here's some quick pictures of the ensuing noshing: