Star fish things

[Bajamike]

So I was looking in my tank and I noticed some little star things. At first I was like "that coraline is kind of cool". Then there was 2 then they moved ( over time ) not fast. So I go to pick one out of the tank and it looks like a starfish on the bottom. I would take a picture but I would say they are less than a 1/8 inch not sure I could get a good picture. They are grey with a white outline. Anyone ever run into them are they harmfull?

 

[Aricml]

They are probably Asterina stars. Some people worry hey eat coral where others argue they are helpful members of your clean up crew. I'd just keep my eye on it and decide for yourself, I have them and dont mind

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[Bajamike]

They are probably Asterina stars. Some people worry hey eat coral where others argue they are helpful members of your clean up crew. I'd just keep my eye on it and decide for yourself, I have them and dont mind

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do they get bigger?

 

[chrislorentz]

They stay small

 

[Aricml]

No, but they can multiply quickly under the right circumstances

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[dirtefish]

Found a few of these hitchhiking in on some live rock. Didnt want to kill em before I had a chance to read up on em, so they ended up in my basement holding tank. Been in a while and havent caused any trouble in there. The only corals in it at the moment are toadstool, xenia, pallys, and some random mushrooms. The stars seem to mainly hang out on the glass or peaking around on the rocks.
They seem to have no interest in the corals, and are cool to look at when they are on the glass.
Btw even if u squish em in half *oops* they grow back just fine and then you have two! lol.

 

[Bajamike]

Well I read up on them and there are conflicting write ups. I have not had any problems with any corals but still not going to chance it going to pull them out when I see them hope my pepperment shrimp like them too.

 

[Off The Deep End]

Some have issues and some dont, mostly a zoa predator so if you start loosing zoas you know where to look. They will multiply fast so if you are looking to get rid of them a harlequin shrimp will do the trick. HTH

 

[that0neguy1126]

We had a big discussion on this not to long agao. The problem with the conflicting info is that there are so many different species that we cant tell apart. Some are good some are nightmares. No way to tell unless you watch them.

 

[Off The Deep End]

We had a big discussion on this not to long agao. The problem with the conflicting info is that there are so many different species that we cant tell apart. Some are good some are nightmares. No way to tell unless you watch them.

+1

 

[SWQuest]

I have some in my SPS tank and I have never had any problems with them. They do multiply quick I agree but that's good because then you have more to keep you glass and rock clean lol. But the ones I have sound like yours and are harmless in my tank oh and my tank has had them for about 1 year

 

[Bajamike]

I thought I had like 2....then I found the rock in which they where hidding must have killed 12 or so. I know where I got them and I would say they are not going to hurt anything but still. Think I am going to buy from one place from now on and avoid hitch hikers as much as I am able to.

 

[hoonderific]

Some have issues and some dont, mostly a zoa predator so if you start loosing zoas you know where to look. They will multiply fast so if you are looking to get rid of them a harlequin shrimp will do the trick. HTH

I've never had issues with my stars either but before you just run out and by a harlequin keep in mind they only eat stars

 

[Bajamike]

I've never had issues with my stars either but before you just run out and by a harlequin keep in mind they only eat stars

Ya I am aware, Thats why I am watching and plucking.. I figured out I can fool them by turning on my blue lights (leaving white off). Also broke one in half and fed it to one of my peppermints, It took off with it hope it has a taste for it now..... but I dont know.... Or I have more to pluck now lol