Starfish out of control!

[Reefer420]

I have hundreds if not thousands of little waving arms- all belonging to these little micro stars.

They grow everywhere! They are even in my powerheads- they have grown into every little crevice of rock. I never minded before- but they really are starting to look bad! :irked:

A few questions... Why the upswing in population? They just recently became an eyesore. Is there some parameter that starfish love? My purple firefish recently became a victim of mantis-cide, but I never noticed him eating them. I do have less hermits due to the mantis as well- would they eat them?

Other than getting a harlequin shrimp (which I might as soon as I get rid of my mantis... yes laugh it up, I still have it in my tank :shhh: ), any other creature I can add that loves to eat micro stars?


Thanks!

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Scoop some out and hold on to them, I come back from vaca next week and might stop by and pick some up.

 

[House of Laughter]

I have 2 harlequins in stock - I could use some feeders

House

 

[jhale]

would'nt those just be a snack for a harlequin?

like eating a bag of chips

 

[House of Laughter]

LOL fishnchips

J

 

[reefman]

thats y most pest need to be keep in check. cause once it start mutipying, its very hard to stop. reason is the way it reproduce(1 becomes 2,2 becomes 4,etc...)

 

[Reefer420]

I wish it would be as easy as scooping them out... they really are just arms sticking out of the rock! They seem to bury their bodies in little tiny cracks in the rock, leaving their little arms waving in the current!

I'm thinking this weekend is a good one for taking my rock out and getting that mantis...so I can get a harlequin!

 

[herman]

If you are taking out the rock anyway, you might as well do an RO water dip. They will usually panic and scurry. Keep a bucket of tank water to keep them afterwards. Works on Mantis also btw

 

[scarf_ace1981]

your description sound like brittle stars not asterina(sp?). will harlequin eat this too?

 

[Reefer420]

hmmm- thoughts on the harlequin eating these guys???

one more thing- the rock i need to dip has a ton of coral attached to it- zoos, and misc hitchiker corals, and a small oyster- will the RO dip kill everything? How long would you recommend dipping for if not?

Thanks again!

 

[inkblue]

i tHink tHers onLY one waY to find out... yoU might have to get a harLequin, no one here wiLL be abLe to teLL you for certain if it wiLL heLp or not :happysad:

 

[digitalreefer]

Seems like everyone has these lately... I pick a ton out constantly... I keep em in a seperate tank if anyone wants some.

 

[masterswimmer]

hmmm- thoughts on the harlequin eating these guys???

one more thing- the rock i need to dip has a ton of coral attached to it- zoos, and misc hitchiker corals, and a small oyster- will the RO dip kill everything? How long would you recommend dipping for if not?

Thanks again!

The harlequin munches starfish as their diet. Should work, but anything can happen, all bets off.

A freshwater RO dip with the zoos and other corals should not be a problem. I FW dip every zoo that goes in my tank anyway. The polyps are normally open within 15 minutes after introducing it to my tank after the dip.

I pick a ton out constantly... I keep em in a seperate tank if anyone wants some.

digital, see quote below:

I have 2 harlequins in stock - I could use some feeders

House

Seems like a match made in heaven.

 

[MO~IDOL]

If your are talking about mini brittle stars, Sally lightfoot crab will take care of that....it worked for my tank

http://www.centralpets.com/animals/fish/saltwater_inverts/swi1761.html

 

[qckwzrd]

would a Pseudo. eat them? I know they eat bristleworms. If you catch the mantis I'll take it off your hands

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

would a Pseudo. eat them? I know they eat bristleworms. If you catch the mantis I'll take it off your hands

Just a reminder.

Pseudo may kill other tankmates too as in the case of our unfortunate mod who has purchased one uninformed of the personality of it. :shhh: :tongue1: Pseudo should stay in more aggressive tank and somewhat seal top tank.

 

[Dmitry]

Harlekin Shrimp eat the more meaty stars. Brittles and their like are not generally part of their diet.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

I have a sally if you want to try, you could put him in and let him eat then he would be a mean for the mantis :biggrin:

 

[gettanked]

I have hundreds if not thousands of little waving arms- all belonging to these little micro stars.

Did you put the little star fish in your tank?
If you have the little Hawaiian star fish, I seen a guy on eBay selling them for one dollar per star fish.
I have the little Hawaiian star fish in my tanks and they have not bothered anything and I think they are better scavengers.
Do you have a picture of your tank showing the star fish?
- gettanked

 

[bad coffee]

They used to collect in my filter bag. I'd pull them out and give/trade them away.

Reefer, I thought you did the soda water trick months ago!

B