Looking for help

[Tazz11]

I have two medium sized colonies of Zoa multiple colors in both colonies. One is doing very well the other was up until about two days ago. After spending some time on this forum doing some quality reading I decided to remove the colony that was beginning to close and stay closed and do a dip. While inspecting the colony while out of the tank I noticed a small white starfish on the underside of the colony along with a rather large stomatella.

I was under the impression that the stomatella is not harmful but any input would be greatly appreciated. Also I know there are types of Star that can be harmful to Zoas not sure what this guys is but I can tell you that as of lately it seems I am getting more and more of these little stars every day in my tank. Any input here is greatly appreciated as well.

If you would like pics let me know and I'll do what I can to get them up quickly

 

[Tazz11]

OK so I decided to update before anyone has replied. After placing the Zoas in the dip I was mistaken on the number of Stars that were hidden inside the colony. I believe i had 7 or 8 of them within the colony. I will attach a picture to help with identification. The question remains the same, could this be the source of the colony remaining closed most of the time and are the stars actually doing damage or just anoyng the colony to the point where it doesnt want to open.

thanks for the help

as a side note I seem to have hundreds of these stars in my tank. i harvested about 50 tonight to place in my fuge until i have a better idea of what to do with them

 

[MikeandNicole]

Yeah there are many species of asterina stars and some of them eat zoas. That is probably why they were closing up. The best method of dealing with them is manual removal. Harlequin shrimp will eat them the only thing you have to worry about it after the stars are gone, feeding the harlequin other stars as that is all they eat.

I am dealing with these guys too and they are a PIA. At least you found out what the problem was quickly and dipped.

 

[Tazz11]

i am hoping that is what the issue was. I have a partial recovery after last nights Dip but still have over half the colony that is still closed up tight... hoping the next day or so will see a complete recovery

 

[MikeandNicole]

Yeah I lost some colonies after the asterinas went to town on them. I pulled them off and dipped them but they just kept disappearing. You might have caught it soon enough, so good luck to you. I just pulled a little bugger off the head of a zoas.

 

[NanoReefWanabe]

they are certainly asternia stars...they were likely irritating the coral, not from feeding on it though, they most likely sensed there is something wrong with the colony and came down to enjoy a meal......most asternia stars are grazers/algae eaters and detrivores....very few are true carnivores (seek out live animals/corals to eat) they all will however eat a dying coral/animal in the tank...repeated dips may have cause the coral to dieoff a bit, and that is likely what the stars where doing there, eating dieing coral/waiting for the coral to die...IF you have zoa eating asternia stars you would only find the stars on your zoas....

 

[Tazz11]

i am going to post a couple of pics of the colony today. many of the em have opened up again but i still have over half that remain closed.

Nano... i only dipped this coral once and that was last night, the thought here was that if there was something foreign on this colony I might be benefiting them with a short Dip. Hoping the pictures will help. I will include a picture of another colony of similar size that is about a foot away from this one that is doing fine and has been since introduction to the tank. It always boggles my mind in this hobby how you can have two like colonies in the same tank almost on top of one another and one thrives while the other struggles to survive....still the greatest gift in the world though to have a piece of the ocean in your Home....Nothing better

tonight

The Other colony

 

[Tazz11]

i am going to post a couple of pics of the colony today. many of the em have opened up again but i still have over half that remain closed.

Nano... i only dipped this coral once and that was last night, the thought here was that if there was something foreign on this colony I might be benefiting them with a short Dip. Hoping the pictures will help. I will include a picture of another colony of similar size that is about a foot away from this one that is doing fine and has been since introduction to the tank. It always boggles my mind in this hobby how you can have two like colonies in the same tank almost on top of one another and one thrives while the other struggles to survive....still the greatest gift in the world though to have a piece of the ocean in your Home....Nothing better

tonight

The Other colony