Question about Asterina's

[TomDe]

I bought a zoo frag off a local reefer and I have not been previouly dipping. (Maybe I will start!)

Anyway, that night I found 3 Asterina's in my tank and now I see one every now and then. Most are very small except one I found a little bigger I put in my fuge.

I have all zoos, ric, polyps, and a few LPS.

Are these harmful? How can I control them from getting out of control?

Thanks in advance.

 

[ophiuroid]

Rarely are they a problem, and probably the majority of people with LR have them. The problems are due to someone getting a particular species that is a coral eater of some sort. They CAN NOT be identified by color, number of arms, etc....even by seastar experts.

IMO, do not fall for the hype. Most people will have no issues. Most Asterina stars feed on biofilms on the glass and rock, and are harmless.

Of those that report problems, the first big issue appears to be they might eat calcareous algae...for most this is a non-issue. The second is eating SPS corals, and finally now and then a soft coral eater.

I have loads of these stars, had them with and without corals. Do not keep SPS but then these are not stars that "switch" to becoming coral eaters. They may be attracted to dead or dying corals long before we see a problem.

I strongly doubt you will have any issues, like the majority of other keepers. However, keep an eye on them. It is a possibility....a possibility not a sure thing. It would, IMO, be unusual.

You can control most by watching what you feed. THey will increase in numbers based on amount of nutrients in the system.

 

[TomDe]

Great thanks. I will watch them for sure.