Not sure if pest or not??

[Southern Flame]

I see deformed starfish? They look like small white starfish just missing arms not sure if they are friend or for but they are in my refugium not in display tank! What to do leave them be since they seem to be contained there? I've only seen 3 not sure where they came from as it is a used set up I purchased

[Southern Flame]

They just seem to walk the walls of the refugium chamber

[jcnkt_ellis]

They are a type of starfish. I forget their proper name but a quick google search for starfish hitchhikers will yield it. From what I've read the white / sandy colored ones are harmless to coral, etc. and make an additional member to the clean up crew, but the dark brown / black ones are potential coral eaters. I have the first category, brought in on additional live rock I added 6 months ago, and can anecdotally vouch for them being reef safe. If you want to remove them, a harlequin shrimp or maybe a specific kind of wrasse will eat them especially since you probably have way more than 3 in there.

[Zack]

Asterina stars? I personally do not trust them as when my zoas seem to start disappering there always seem to be a few on them, I remove them when I see em but many people say they are reef safe.

[350gt]

Asterina stars are all over my tank and I have never noticed them on my corals or eating zoas.... There is a bunch of speculation about them on the web...

In my experience they are safe!

This pic is from google

17331

They munch on my coralline and most algae that forms on the rock and glass.. I was asked why dont I get something to take care of them, if I felt they were a problem.... I honestly would..

[Southern Flame]

Thanks ill leave them for now unless someone wants them they are just in the refugium so they can hang out haven't seen them on the rocks just glass/acrylic (as the sump is acrylic) :-)

[Southern Flame]

That photo is exactly what mine look like :-)

[350gt]

If they are in your fuge, they will spread quickly...... If not already all over your tank....

Look at night, I bet they are all over.

[350gt]

Even if you catch them on a coral I wouldn't worry..

They are all over one of my caps that took a dump after my led swap but he was already dead before they crawled on him..... And they love frag plugs.... But they go after the algae that tends to stick to new plugs. Never once eating my zoas....

[Southern Flame]

Ok cool cause I have a hawaiian feather duster and wouldn't want him to die I'd be pretty upset if he did

[Scutterborn]

Make sure they aren't the 7 legged variety. Otherwise they're good to go.


- Ben -

[Southern Flame]

They look like they would be reg star fish just missing an arm or two LOL poor lil guys

[SinisterLou]

http://www.reefs.com/blog/2011/05/03/zoanthid-wars-part-i-the-asterina-conspiracy/

[350gt]

Lou stop making him panic.... Lol

[SinisterLou]

Not trying to make him panic, trying to make you.

[Southern Flame]

Those deformed stars must DIE!! They are chowing down on my cheato as we speak :( and my water isn't safe for the shrimp who will have them for dinner :(

[Southern Flame]

O I'm a female btw LOL

[SinisterLou]

oops sorry my bad:wink_smile:

[Southern Flame]

All good no worries :-))

[350gt]

Lol I apologize....

But if you are worried about it, there is predators that will make quick work of them..... I was paranoid at first myself but noticed they are harmless in my tank... And I have a bunch of chalices on my Sand bed and zoas that are starting to take off after removing a pesky damsel fish... Some of which I would hate to lose......

[Southern Flame]

Yea I've decided once its time to add the cleaner crew I will be adding the harlequin shrimp to the fuge chamber. I don't wanna risk keeping them and them chowing down on the softies I wanna add eventually

[SinisterLou]

Good call and theyre awesome shrimp

[Scutterborn]

Elegant had a beautiful one Friday. FYI.


- Ben -

[Southern Flame]

Thanks Ben but I still have a little cycling left to do nitrates are at 80ppm and I have a bit of ammonia still but I got some macro today so hopefully it's cycles a bit quicker before those horrid stars take over my display also

[rrasco]

I've always had them since my first tank. They moved with me, too. There is a lot of good and bad discussion on them, but I've never had them be an issue. I don't have a lot, I might see one every month or so. And since I know that's not the only one in the tank, I normally remove the ones I see, just in case. There are always more, I promise.

[Southern Flame]

I've always had them since my first tank. They moved with me, too. There is a lot of good and bad discussion on them, but I've never had them be an issue. I don't have a lot, I might see one every month or so. And since I know that's not the only one in the tank, I normally remove the ones I see, just in case. There are always more, I promise.

Ok ill start removeing when they are in my reach i dont wanna chance getting softies and them chowing down on them even tho some have never had issues

[Southern Flame]

Plucked out 5 stars so far and couldn't reach one ugh lol wonder how many will be there in the morning

[SinisterLou]

If you do end up getting a harlequin shrimp he will need to be fed a chocolate chip starfish every so often. He can clean up asterinas pretty quick.

[Southern Flame]

Seriously??!! They are so cute tho

[SinisterLou]

Yup after he is done with asterinas he will need to be fed about one every three to four weeks. It depends on how long it takes them to eat it. Sometimes they help keep them alive so that he can feed off of their limbs.

[Southern Flame]

It sounds so horrible but I guess if one star will feed one shrimp for nearly a month I guess that's not to bad lol

[Southern Flame]

i have gotten 8 out so far i have one that stays just out of reach lol