Should I keep these?

[chilli_reef]

Personal experience and Google. Zoaid used to have something on them...
Garf had a big write up available at one time as well.
They used to nick name the bad guys vampire asterina stars.

 

[cloak]

You mean this one?

http://www.coralpedia.com/index.php?module=Gallery2&g2_itemId=1426

I couldn't find any information on that site that distinguishes the good ones from the bad ones without a doubt. I tried Google and GARF as well and I couldn't find any concrete evidence either.
Any help would really be appreciated.

Here's another site with some information about these things too btw.

http://chucksaddiction.thefishestate.net/ (Info Links > Hitch Hikers > Starfish)

 

[chilli_reef]

Yeah that's what I was calling zoaid. Didnt they used to go by that name ?

I see what you mean.
Nothing on asterinas on the other site on a specific explanation.
Side note: Kind of odd he has "unknown" underneath a picture of a zoanthid eating sundial snail.
I mean they obviously put a lot in to fact finding for what info is there. Those are pretty well known.

I'll do some searching and try to provide links for the coral eating asterina species.

 

[chilli_reef]

Here's the garf link...

http://www.garf.org/Star/starfish.html

Not very detailed but they have the photo and I believe they name the species as well ?

Reefkeeper mag right here on rc has a very good write up on them as well. Supposedly the asterina family is huge and only like 5% of them are coral eaters. Not really common to find.

 

[chilli_reef]

The species I think is actually mentioned by a reefer in an email showed with the others at the bottom of the page on garfs info page.
Its asterina anomala
http://www.google.com/search?site=&...p..4.18.2928.3.iwIDFFpS5ZI#q=asterina+anomala

 

[mgraf]

I think it would be the opposite, I think in a larger tank, it would be much harder to tell what was actually doing the damage as compared to a smaller tank. Personally, and have no proof of this, I have never had a problem with them. Even at times I've had massive populations. Just cause you see them on a piece of coral or a polyp does not mean that they are attacking it. I will have them in my reef, at least until I feel they are causing damage. Lots of critters, many you may not even be aware of living in your system could be causing damage. With that said, I'm going downstairs with a flashlight and make sure nothing is eating my corals.

 

[cloak]

Here's the garf link...

http://www.garf.org/Star/starfish.html

Not very detailed but they have the photo and I believe they name the species as well ?

Reefkeeper mag right here on rc has a very good write up on them as well. Supposedly the asterina family is huge and only like 5% of them are coral eaters. Not really common to find.

The species I think is actually mentioned by a reefer in an email showed with the others at the bottom of the page on garfs info page.
Its asterina anomala
http://www.google.com/search?site=&...p..4.18.2928.3.iwIDFFpS5ZI#q=asterina+anomala

Thanks for the links. I'll definitely bookmark these. Still more questions than answers regarding the safeness of these stars though. Not only on this site, but many others as well. For every person that say's the white ones are ok while the mottled ones are not there's somebody that says otherwise. All the more reason to remove them on sight IMO. GL.

 

[chilli_reef]

Its just like peppermint shrimp or anything else really.
Just have to watch and see lol

 

[cloak]

I guess, although not many people add these things to their tank just for fun. They may be offered as food sometimes, but they usually just show up unannounced and then questions always tend to follow...

 

[Gravis]

Thank you guy's for this intense discussion about the Asteria stars. I am still not sure what to do though.

 

[chilli_reef]

I've added them to mine every time on purpose lol !
Especially in a fuge. But I keep a very close eye on my tank though. Even with out them. Since ive started the new tank with dead rock though I've been on the sterile kick lol !
Haven't added anything with out dipping it, or quarantining it before hand. No large pieces of rock from any tank shall enter my new set up ! At all..
Haa !