This Starfish Is Eating My Green People Eaters!!

[Fishinfool]

Does anybody know what kind of starfish this is? I have done some looking for it and cannot find it. While I was at work today the starfish ate half the skirts on 3 polyps of my Green People Eaters. When I looked in the tank it was cupped around the top of one of the polyp's and it's mouth was positioned right in the center of the oral disk. Ever heard of this?? I have had the starfish for over 2 months and never any problems with any zoanthids in my tank and it seems to be targeting just the GPE. My lights are off at the time of this post but I will post pics of the affected GPE tomorrow.

 

[tang0v]

get a harley shrimp...it will do the job..

 

[Fishinfool]

get a harley shrimp...it will do the job..

It's not a Asterina star... The starfish is about 3 or 4 inches tip to tip.

 

[Reefaddictor]

It's not a Asterina star... The starfish is about 3 or 4 inches tip to tip.

it doesnt matter, harliquin shrimp will finish it off.

 

[Fishinfool]

it doesnt matter, harliquin shrimp will finish it off.

It might finish it off but it would take days!! The starfish is as big as a medium sized sandsifter

 

[luvdiving]

Are u sure its eating it?I've never heard of starfish eating Zoas...

 

[Fishinfool]

I haven't either but I swear itnwas eating them. I will send pics when I get home tonight.

 

[Friday Night]

and the family of blue knuckle's are being good?

 

[Norwood IND]

Does not look like a reef safe starfish. If any questions on if it is eating your zoanthids or palys, get rid of it!!!

 

[Fishinfool]

Does not look like a reef safe starfish. If any questions on if it is eating your zoanthids or palys, get rid of it!!!

Blue knuckles are being good.... The two starfish are already in quarantine waiting to go back to the LFS. Here are pics of the GPE they are on the right. The 3 polyps on the left side of th frag are the ones that are half eaten.

 

[Friday Night]

yea i mean i can see some of the "skirt" of the paly ripped or torn.. but they will grow back sounds like your on the right track by kicking out the starfish..

 

[wrasseguy2]

i have kept that species before and it ate my zoas as well i sat and watched it eat some when i noticed some that had gone missing...i can't remeber what kind it is but i did sale mine off...mine was alot larger than your though..i thought they where reef safe

 

[Guygettnby]

i have personally collected this same starfish from the gulf and tried to keep some. i had the same results with it eating any softies i had in the tank with them. lucky for me this was only a frag tank that they were housed in and i only lost a few zoa frags and abunch of kenya tree :lol:

my advise to you is take it to your LFS and get some trade in credit for it. if that is not an option im sure some body has a FOWLR tank close to you that would take it off your hands. they are defilently not reef safe for sure.

 

[Fishinfool]

i have personally collected this same starfish from the gulf and tried to keep some. i had the same results with it eating any softies i had in the tank with them. lucky for me this was only a frag tank that they were housed in and i only lost a few zoa frags and abunch of kenya tree :lol:

my advise to you is take it to your LFS and get some trade in credit for it. if that is not an option im sure some body has a FOWLR tank close to you that would take it off your hands. they are defilently not reef safe for sure.

They were cool looking for the few months they behaved. Back to the LFS Wednesday!!