woodnaquanut
Active member
Eagle eyed wife spotted this little fellow yesterday. Should I let it be?
Star - friend or foe?
- Thread starter woodnaquanut
- Start date
ReeferItIs2
New member
I use to leave the ones in my tank alone until someone at the meeting told me theirs ate alot of their zoas...since then it's been hunting season for me lol...i use to think it was really cool to have starfish in my tank out of nowhere
Dragonvale
New member
Actually they do eat zoas. Or atleast I have seen them first hand cover up a polyp and go at it.
woodnaquanut
Active member
I've never seen Asterinea larger than 1/4 inch. Always very white. This guy is closer to one inch across and blends in really well!
It better stay away from my competition CAR!!
I will remove it if I ever see it again!
It better stay away from my competition CAR!!
I will remove it if I ever see it again!
leveldrummer
New member
No way is that an asterina...
It looks like a sand sifting star, but the fact that its up out on the rock and corals makes me nervous...
It doesnt seem to be eat corals because it would stay still ontop of them until they were gone.
But if you see it again, it wouldnt be the worst idea to remove and put in the sump or fuge.
It looks like a sand sifting star, but the fact that its up out on the rock and corals makes me nervous...
It doesnt seem to be eat corals because it would stay still ontop of them until they were gone.
But if you see it again, it wouldnt be the worst idea to remove and put in the sump or fuge.
Rarend99
Active member
+1 definitely not an asterina
Dapg8gt
New member
Totally disagree about it not being an asterina. I battled those things for years and they can get fairly large. I've had a few pushing over 1/4".i would remove it ASAP if you can. They get to plague proportions fairly quickly and not only do certain types eat zoas they also much on coraline algae. It's a gamble to to see if it's a zoa eater or not.
Putting it in your sump will guarantee them in your display fwiw.
Putting it in your sump will guarantee them in your display fwiw.
leveldrummer
New member
Am I crazy? Thi star seems to be clearly an inch or two across with long slender legs.
woodnaquanut
Active member
Not quite that big. I'd say it is 1/2 the size of one of the big disks. 3/4 size of a typical plug.
Dapg8gt
New member
I'm fairly positive it's an asterina. The coloration and shape is exactly the same as an adult one. And on par with a lot I witnessed personally =).
@john with the coral you got from me it could have very well been from my frag tank back then I finally got rid of them all with a friendly Harley=).
@john with the coral you got from me it could have very well been from my frag tank back then I finally got rid of them all with a friendly Harley=).
woodnaquanut
Active member
You ran over the tank with a motorcycle? That can't be right. 
OK it's on my foe list. Now I just gotta find it again!
Did someone get Bob's shrimp? I might need it to make a house call.
OK it's on my foe list. Now I just gotta find it again!
Did someone get Bob's shrimp? I might need it to make a house call.
AMAYEU
New member
Foe. If you have any zoas and value them to stay alive, remove it. It's a moot point whether its an asterina or not. Be safe and not misidentify. Majority of reefers have issues with them eating zoas, primarily when they are not in good health.
They look cool and entertaining at first, but still a pest. I learned the hard way. They multiply and lost zoas.
They look cool and entertaining at first, but still a pest. I learned the hard way. They multiply and lost zoas.
coralfarmer
Aquarist
It is a Asterina sp. There are over thirty species in this Genus. From first hand experience I can tell you that they do eat corals. Plus they eat coralline algae too so that's a double whammy. Remember "When doubt get it out!"
woodnaquanut
Active member
OK, The hunt is on! Eagle eyed wife on the case.
