aestrina stars

[FlexLuthor]

ok I realize why I can't keep zoas...
they keep getting eaten by the stars.
should I try to manually get rid of them?
Or should I get a harlequin?
I have a few inverts in the tank tank
boxer crabs, sexy shrimp and coral banded shrimp.
would it be ok?
I know eventually I'll have to by a chocolate starfish....or could I raise stars in my fuse and have them filter out?
ideas and opinions are welcome guys

 

[Smotz]

following.

 

[Dace]

ok I realize why I can't keep zoas...
they keep getting eaten by the stars.
should I try to manually get rid of them?
Or should I get a harlequin?

Both

 

[TUSI]

Harlequin will clean em up pretty fast

 

[Jhoehlein]

A harlequin is the best way to eradicate them. You can try to keep them under control through manual removal but you'll never get them all.

The only current critter that may give a harlequin trouble would be the coral banded shrimp. If it hasn't acted aggressively before towards other inverts you may be ok, but you would want to keep a close eye on it when you add a new shrimp to the tank.

Harlequin shrimp are voracious, a fuge wouldn't be able to keep up with their asterina demands. After mopping up the stars in your tank you need to either settle into buying it additional starfish or trade it to someone else who needs help with asterinas.

 

[Smotz]

I have a serpent star somewhere in there...thats a shame..

 

[lnevo]

I don't think they eat serpent stars and brittle stars.

 

[KathyC]

I don't think they eat serpent stars and brittle stars.

That is correct - the Harley's won't bother those types of star fish.


Harleys are the best for getting rid of zoa eating asterinas as you cannot possible eliminate them by pulling them out as there are more on the underside of the rock than you can see in the tank and they will continue to munch on the zoas.
If you decide to get a pair, be sure they have different markings on their underbellies (so you get a M-F pair) and 2 of the same sex will kill each other.
Once they have taken care of your asterina issue - you can do as suggested above and sell them to someone else with the issue or you can continue feeding them. Some folks will keep a chocolate chip star fish in their sump and cut off one leg per week (ewwww) to feed them. They will also eat sand sifting starts, but those are more costly than the chocolate chips.
Very interesting little critters & entertaining too.

 

[outeastreef]

A harlequin shrimp is fun to watch eat a chocolate chip star fish. I feed mine once or twice a month. No asterina star in my tank anymore.

 

[FlexLuthor]

I only have a fuge, no sump
how could I keep the chocolate starfish out of the main tank...and what would I have to feed it to live?

 

[duke62]

Just throw the chocolate chip in the tank. The Harley will find it and it won't hurt your corals once it has a hold of the star

 

[FlexLuthor]

But I wanted to do the whole leg cutting thing

 

[lnevo]

Then you can freeze them.

 

[FlexLuthor]

ok I think I found a place to keep a chocolate star.
If I cut off a leg and feed it to the shrimp. how many legs a month does the shrimp need?

 

[lnevo]

One a week about

 

[FlexLuthor]

How long does it take them to regenerat?

 

[duromega]

How long does it take them to regenerat?

a long time
so no, you won't be using one seastar to feed your shrimp forever

 

[lnevo]

Or even 3-4..

 

[FlexLuthor]

ok so I got the shrimp...that was harassed by the ccs
it disappeared into the rock after.
I have noticed that it seems like there are many more stars now. is it possible they are running away?

 

[noelskii]

Are you sure it's the stars eating your zoas? Most of the stars I've seen are only going on top of the dead or already dying zoas...