microstars and sps

[jer77]

I was wondering if microstars harm or hinder growth of coral especially sps? I have numerous skinny branched species of acros and I also have lots of microstars who love to hide themselves in the crevices in the corals. I have noticed that they usually inhabit the spots where the coral has died or is dying. I was wondering if they have anything to do with the whitening of the coral? Also do crabs like the tiny porcelin crabs cause problems for the sps corals? I like microstars, but they just seem to hinder the growth of small acro colonies and especially frags.

 

[DrBDC]

Are you referring to the mini white brittle stars or the little multilegged flat stars? I've had problems in the past with the later ones that look like these Asterina's:

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-06/ac/feature/index.php

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/asterinafaqs.htm

Here is an article on the bad ones or debatably bad ones:

http://garf.org/STAR/starfish.html