WTB Harlequin shrimp

[Walter White]

Anyone up north have one to sell or no who does. Looking to get rid of some asterina stars before they get out of control.

 

[Tripple T]

Hey chris there is absolutely no reason to worry about these star fish. IMO they do not kill zoas nor do anything harmful. I have seen them on my zoas before but I've never seen the zoas die after. I am not alone in this opinion. I believe this like many others in our hobby was a rumor that got turned into "fact" for non scientific reasons.

 

[Mini T]

I would disagree. I've lost zoas to them before and large amphipods. It's hit and miss I think.

 

[SAZAMA]

never had a problem with them, but I dont really care about zoas so?

 

[Walter White]

At this point id rather be safe than sorry. The harlequin is beautiful also so I should wouldnt mind having one for a time. I supose I could trt picking them off as i see them but what a pain. They do seem to be multiplying rather quickly. None of my Zoas seem bothered but then again I have not see any on my Zoas.

 

[Haddonisreef]

They will take out stars petty fast so get chocolate chip star to supplement feed them!

 

[Walter White]

I dont plan on keeping the harlequin long term and this being a nano i dont think im brave enough to risk a chocolate chip star. Ill likley just find him a new home when his done

 

[Mini T]

Some people think it's the darker variety that are the zoa eaters. I think like anything, over population of anything can lead to different eating behaviors based on food supply.

 

[Walter White]

they are are definitley the darker sort. They may be harmless (for now) and i'm going to panic or anything I just want address it now for peace of mind. I like my Zoas and already have some colonies that are quite pricey not too keen on an ugly starfish munching them I just got em all nice and happy.

Anyone know if there is another natural predator thats not another startfish? lol

 

[Mini T]

I think some wrasses, yellow coris or melanurus might.

 

[J&A Timberlake]

I have a yellow coris wrasse, but he pays the star fish no mind. I do agree that they can destroy zoas - it's fact not myth as I have seen them destroy mine (lost 2 colonies to them last year). Had a harly for that same reason before I restarted the system. Now the few I have are not of the darker variety, however I too will be getting another harly and supplicating it's diet once these few are gone as well.

 

[djkms]

I have these stars in my system and have had them in previous systems. Never seen them touch anything that wasnt already heading out the door. Never seen them on a zoa but I have seen them on a couple of dying sps corals.

 

[Mini T]

I have these stars in my system and have had them in previous systems. Never seen them touch anything that wasnt already heading out the door. Never seen them on a zoa but I have seen them on a couple of dying sps corals.

This is really the problem I think, especially with large pods. A zoa stars to go south, but not so far that you can't bring it back, and the pods move in and finish it all off since they're going after the dead tissue. Where as, a good dip and blowing the dead tissue off with a powerhead let's the coral heal and be saved.