Small white starfish eating zoes?

[WLDSHARK]

Hello fellow zoe aficionados, Some of my zoes and pallys have been disappearing, I found some small dime size white starfish in my tank (so far 5 of them). Do you know if those little guys are to blame?

Your imput will be greatly appreciated?

I wil post pictures later.

 

[coralfarm123]

They are most likely asterina starfish. I've heard some types eat zoanthids, but I'm not sure which particular type. Harlequin Shrimp eat starfish and some people use them, but they are really tiny and will die once their food source is gone.

 

[MUCHO REEF]

I agree with CF123, but if they're dime size, you can bet there are a ton of babies as those are mature adults at dime size. Some like them, but I hate all of them good or bad and they should never be trusted with corals of any value. I remove all of mine promptly, but that's just me. I concur on the harlequin shrimp.

 

[WLDSHARK]

Thanks for the info CF123 & Mucho Reef...I found this article on GARF.ORG after i got their name from CF123.
http://www.garf.org/STAR/starfish.html

 

[650-IS350]

I just manually remove them if I ever see them. Good or NOT

 

[jerryjrbest]

Zoaid.com has pictures of zoanthid predators.

 

[jjmcat]

I pull them all out.I have seen them on my zoas.I cant prove they were munching on them but why take the chance.

 

[Skeptic_07]

I've got many of those in my tank and I haven't had a problem so far but that dont mean that they wont eventaully become a problem. Many of these guys are alot more experienced than me and if they say they'll be a problem than they probably will. I'm just really good at learning stuff the hard way.

 

[WLDSHARK]

So far I have pull 10 of those little suckers...and yes they where definitely munching on my zoa

 

[ReefWreak]

I've got one or a few of those in my 2.5g pico up here at school. I've never seen them on any zoos, just on the glass. My zoos in this tank are not growing out of control, so maybe the starfish is keeping them under control? I dunno, but the growth on the zoos is not receding, and this is only a 2.5g tank with may 10-15 zoo polyps of 3-4 different types and they grow slowly (which is to be expected in a 2.5g tank under terrible 10w PCs).

I'm not worried about it, but if you've got any question about them, no harm (that we know of) in removing them just to be safe.

 

[RevHtree]

I also remove asap if I find them. I have had frags do badly and upon inspection find them munching or something on the frag.

99.9% sure they eat zoanthids...

 

[Eklikewhoa]

I never had any problems with them and my zoas.

 

[Skeptic_07]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12326540#post12326540 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RevHtree
I have had frags do badly and upon inspection find them munching or something on the frag.

Without trying to be sarcastic or nasty: If you see a dead fish in your tank with bristle worms allover it eating it, do you think the bristle worms killed the fish? I've seen these stars sitting directly on some of my polyps and they didnt even seem irritated or close up. I think the case must be certain asternia variety will eat zoanthid or asternia only eat certain zoanthid. Maybe asternia must be really starved to try to eat zoanthid. OR consider the possibility that asternia will eat some kind of zoanthid fungus which is why you always find them on frags that are doing poorly. Just my thoughts and observations on these things. purely speculation i have no evidence beyong what i've seen happen in my tank.

 

[Crypsis]

Thats interesting Skeptic. I have a bunch of astrina's but I don't think I've ever seen them eat my coral.

 

[jjmcat]

 

[Floridaboy704]

I at one time thought my asternia were eating my GSP, but they were just grazing, never harmed the GSP or my zoa, just go right by or sometimes crawl over.

Those pics dont look like the asternia stars in my tank.