Interesting observation

[DrDave]

Interesting thing happening since improved water level and decreased algae growth in display tank. Small star fish which normally feed on algae on the rock are now trying to eat all my Zoa and Paly's. Seen one even feasting on my Acans. Manually removing them from my tank.

 

[KathyC]

Not good. Get yourself a harlequin shrimp to eat the asterinas. You will never capture them all before they do an enormous amount of damage (as in they will totally eat your zoas, especially the ones that cost the most.. ) to your tank. For the ones you can see, there are 20 that are hiding on the underside of your live rock.

 

[DrDave]

Star fish

Do harlequin also eat spider like star fish?

 

[Reef Fixations]

they eat all stars

 

[KathyC]

Do harlequin also eat spider like star fish?

Are you talking about the micro brittle stars? Not to my knowledge but it is possible.
They don't eat full sized brittle or serpent stars either.

Once you run out of asterinas for them to eat you need to feed the chocolate chip stars( most people use these) or sand sifters (not worth it to feed those)

 

[MatthewScars]

Are you talking about the micro brittle stars? Not to my knowledge but it is possible.
They don't eat full sized brittle or serpent stars either.

Once you run out of asterinas for them to eat you need to feed the chocolate chip stars( most people use these) or sand sifters (not worth it to feed those)

Cheaper to just let the shrimp starve, no?

 

[Mattl22]

I have sm stars they don't touch my zoas are there different types??

 

[Reef Fixations]

Are you talking about the micro brittle stars? Not to my knowledge but it is possible.
They don't eat full sized brittle or serpent stars either.

Once you run out of asterinas for them to eat you need to feed the chocolate chip stars( most people use these) or sand sifters (not worth it to feed those)

I just put one of my serpents and one of my brittle stars in with my harlequin pair and my harlequins didn't even acknowledge their existence. I'll double check on them a few times more later on but they should be hungry. I only threw them 2 small asterinas yesterday.

Thanks Kathy.... learn something new everyday.

 

[KathyC]

Cheaper to just let the shrimp starve, no?

More humane to feed it or take it out and sell it to someone else who is willing to pay for the 'food' to keep it alive.

 

[KathyC]

I have sm stars they don't touch my zoas are there different types??

yes, there are definitely different types of asterinas.
The ones that are purely beige in color tend to eat only algae. The ones that have dark (hints of blue/green) coloration on them tend to eat zoas

 

[MatthewScars]

More humane to feed it or take it out and sell it to someone else who is willing to pay for the 'food' to keep it alive.

It's more human to buy $10+ a pop starfish just to have them be eaten? Seems the same level of humaneness.

Im just trolling you

 

[KathyC]

It's more human to buy $10+ a pop starfish just to have them be eaten? Seems the same level of humaneness.

Im just trolling you

thanks I needed that Matt..lol
...but yeah, you have a point there...better then to sell them/it to someone else with an asterina issue