Zoa eating starfish?

[Pablorenzo]

I was just wondering if anyone knows if ther is such a thing as a zoa eating starfish, i have these starfish that are all over my zoas (will post pics later) and i just wanted to know if they are harfulm or just irratating them?

 

[reefs4life]

Yeah I heard asterina starfish can be irratating to zoas and some may eat them as well

 

[reefs4life]

This thread might help if those are the starfish that are giving you problem...
http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/general-discussion/39498-stars-my-nemesis.html

 

[Pablorenzo]

Here are pics of the starfish i see over some of my zoas!!!!

 

[noodleman]

wow nice pic of the starfish feeding on the glass :starfish:

 

[Pablorenzo]

Biggest thing i am trying to find out is if these are deadly to my zoas, because if they are that glass will be its last meal!!!!!

 

[kigs]

How big is your tank? If it's not TOO big, I would get a pair of Harlequin as a precautionary measure. There are so many species of Asterina starfish, making it almost impossible to properly ID the type that does munch on zoanthids. Many Asterina species are harmless, but there are certain ones out there that will consume zoanthids.

 

[Pablorenzo]

40 gal breeder, getting read to upgrade to a 120 and if these starfish are deadly, they are the last thing i would like to see in the 120.
thanks for all the advice so far and i will start a thread soon on my 120 build!

 

[KathyC]

Hey Pablo..I feel for you! That's my thread up there in the 3rd post and those stars have been eating my zoas like they're candy.

Get a male/female (same sex will kill each other)pair of harleys to help you out and lend them a hand as best you can. I found a pair of hemostats work well...good control
My tank is a 120 and the harleys have no problem finding the stars, they diefinitely have made an impact. Unfortuantely I know of no other way to get rid of the stars...
Good luck to you!

Fantastic pic btw..you should enter that for the Calendar!!

 

[Pablorenzo]

Kathy, how do i submit my pictures for the calandar.

 

[marki24]

btw do you just see the zoas closing or disappearing?

 

[KathyC]

Mark..some of those asterina varieties flat out eat them and they vanish entirely!

 

[Pablorenzo]

first they close up and slowly disapper. The starfish are the only thing i see on top of them

 

[sweetsop]

Hi, I am having the same experience, at first I thought it could be the pepermint shrimp, but I always see these star fish on top and around my zoas.

My tank is too small to add any extra fish (30gal), have you found any solutions other than picking these guys out by hand?

Thanks for sharing.

 

[Pablorenzo]

from my readings and other members reasponses (THANKS TO ALL) it seems like the best solution are harley's!!!!

Hi, I am having the same experience, at first I thought it could be the pepermint shrimp, but I always see these star fish on top and around my zoas.

My tank is too small to add any extra fish (30gal), have you found any solutions other than picking these guys out by hand?

Thanks for sharing.

 

[ssmtcarlo]

Harleys will definitly keep the asterina in check maybe even eradicate them.

 

[sweetsop]

fish or shrimp?

 

[Pablorenzo]

shrimp

fish or shrimp?

 

[marki24]

Mark..some of those asterina varieties flat out eat them and they vanish entirely!

Kathy, where's the love?? :inlove: