Tiny Starfish

[gcantu]

Recently I have noticed an explosion of tiny starfish in my tank. Are they harmful to my somewhat developed reef, innocent, or just pests? I have been picking them off the rocks, but there are so many of them it seems like a pain to keep sticking my hands in there.

[Bill S]

I found them once cruising across a cap I had. Lawnmowered it. I've since gotten after them every morning before the lights go on.

[cpreefguy]

Hey George, I take them out whenever I can, better safe that sorry IMO.
I want to try a bumble bee shrimp (related to harlequin shrimp) because they eat them, but also accept frozen food

[safeuerwehr]

hey george there was a link to this same issue about a month or so ago it even had pictures you might look it up and see if its the same...but from what i read some of these will eat at corals and such.....so probably a good idea to get rid of them........

alfred

[gcantu]

Thanks everyone! Does anyone in town carry these 'bumble bee shrimp'???

[caferacermike]

I heard both sides about the stars, being great detrivors and also being terrors eating SPS. I didn't worry about them until I caught one eating the last bit of an awesome frag I had gotten. I bought (loaned as I took it back when done) a harlequin shrimp and it ate them. I think it did. I only knew of about 15 stars in the tank and I haven't seen any since.