What starfish is this?

[dynamictank]

What type of starfish is this I have tons of them showing up at night n seen them on corals polyps and other and also seen them clean algae up pretty quick especially cyano I've picked up on, but what do u think I've also noticed palys polyps not growing as fast or reciting
1-What do u think it eats?
2-Why do they multiply so fast?
3-How do u control this?
4-Is this bad for a reef tank?
5-Where did it come from?


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[masterswimmer]

Asterina

 

[prattreef]

Def. Asterina sp. Very common and it appears that there are more than one species that behave quite differently. Some (like me) have had them in large quantities for years and seen no issues at all. Others report them to eat various corals.

They multiply quickly by breaking little bits of their legs off, each one growing into a new seastar--you'll notice many missing limbs.

Manual removal or harlequin shrimp are the best means of removal if you are so inclined.

One point I would like to make though is just because you see them on a coral, doesn't necessarily mean they are eating the coral.

 

[waynotcars]

I also have 100's of them and have never seen them bother anything.

 

[rookie07]

I have had them eat zoas, but have not noticed anything else being eaten by them.

 

[TRIGGERMAN]

yea they eat my zoos up like crazy these little bastards I hate them get rid of them asap.

 

[Imbarrie]

They are mostly harmless. I never have any problems with them. Best to observe their behavior and use your own judgement instead of eradicating a cool little hitch hiker.


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[dynamictank]

I notice them on these alot n they seem to be getting smaller

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[TRIGGERMAN]

see I told you..they EAT zoos.

 

[e.muehlbauer]

For the last year or so I have had lots of them. I have had them in the past, and in my experience populations eventually drop or crash.....they reappear some years later. I have never had any problem with them...They certainly have not touched my Zoa's....in fact, I only see them on the glass, and they do a great job of cleaning algae. In fact, my population is now on the decline, and there has been a concurrent increase in the amount of algae on the glass. I have been trying to introduce them to my other tank for a year...yet they don't take in that tank. Occasionally I'll see one..on a rock, not the glass. Interesting change in behavior.

 

[Imbarrie]

Seeing asterina starfish on zoas and blaming them for eating them is like saying the Police cause all accidents because every accident you see has a cop car there.

I have a healthy population of different kinds of zoas that I constantly frag. I also have a healthy population of asterina all over my rocks and glass. If they ate zoas then they would not be on my rocks or glass. They would be eating my zoas.

 

[THEDLO]

Seeing asterina starfish on zoas and blaming them for eating them is like saying the Police cause all accidents because every accident you see has a cop car there.

i get it! :splitspin

 

[TRIGGERMAN]

Well I'm sorry to burst your bubble Barrie but A LOT of people have witnessed them eating zoos. I used to think they didn't do anything either until I noticed tons of zoos disappearing slowly. I only have 2 fish and they are not eating zoos there is nothing else in my tank other than snails and hermits. I watched closely and I saw the stars literally cradling around the zoo polyps and waited a lil came back and they were gone. How do YOU explain that? Perhaps a starfish magic? NO they are eating the damn zoos!

 

[Imbarrie]

I will steer you away from unreliable testimony and present you a real authority.

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/asterinafaqs.htm

 

[Lenny718]

How do YOU explain that? Perhaps a starfish magic? NO they are eating the damn zoos!

LMAO @ the starfish magic :biglaugh:

 

[dynamictank]

Hah a u guys r funny


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[naples]

Get a harliqin shrimp and say good by to all of the little white stars fish they love to eat them. i had the same problem. had hundreds of them...got two harliqin shrimps and no more stars. the only problem is you cant keep any kind of star fish. and every few weeks i feed them a sand sifter star.

 

[waynotcars]

Just because they are sitting on a Zoa or anything else for that matter doesn't necessarily mean they're eating them. They gotta sit some place!