What are these tiny white looking star fish?

TonyOrlando · 05/12/2009, 12:00 PM

I have tiny white looking star fish in my tank. They are about the size of a dime, the large ones that is. They are multiplying.

Phillybean · 05/12/2009, 12:05 PM

Asterina (sp?) Stars. Harmless.

TonyOrlando · 05/12/2009, 12:10 PM

I figured they were harmless, but should i try and stop the growth and pull as many out i can?

Jason Turner · 05/12/2009, 02:24 PM

A couple of them are cute but it doesn't take long for a dozen of these to turn into hundreds. You can battle them by hand or simply buy a harlequin shrimp and it will solve the problem. However if you have any other types of stars in the tank don't use the shrimp method because it will definitly eat them.

Whys · 05/12/2009, 03:08 PM

Don't buy a Harlequin. Yes, they eat star feet. No, they don't eat anything else. It'll quickly starve unless you want to buy stars for food. But that's a pretty fancy solution.

circusink22 · 05/12/2009, 05:05 PM

these starfish multiply very fast, and yes some will eat or smother zoas, if you buy a harlequin you could put a couple of chocolate chip starfish in your sump/fuge and alternate cutting the legs of to feed the shrimp.

or just sell it when the stars are gone. but youll probly want to keep the harlequin, they are very cool and fun to watch eat

circusink22 · 05/12/2009, 05:07 PM

i ment to say some will eat or smother zoas there are many different types of Asterinas

RobbyVonAwesome · 05/12/2009, 05:40 PM

Yep, Asterina starfish. They are more or less harmless until you get a huge amount. Pretty much the only way to control them is to a) pick them off manually, or; b) harlequin shrimp. The problem with the shrimp, as stated above, is that they only eat starfish tube feet.

I recommend leaving them be unless you suspect they're doing damage.

05/12/2009, 12:00 PM	#1
TonyOrlando Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Orlando,Florida Posts: 379	What are these tiny white looking star fish? I have tiny white looking star fish in my tank. They are about the size of a dime, the large ones that is. They are multiplying.

05/12/2009, 12:05 PM	#2
Phillybean Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Kelowna B.C. Posts: 610	Asterina (sp?) Stars. Harmless. __________________ It's not how much is costs that matters, it's how much you told your wife it costs!

05/12/2009, 12:10 PM	#3
TonyOrlando Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Orlando,Florida Posts: 379	I figured they were harmless, but should i try and stop the growth and pull as many out i can?

05/12/2009, 02:24 PM	#4
Jason Turner Awaiting Email Confirmation Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Chattanooga, Tn Posts: 16	A couple of them are cute but it doesn't take long for a dozen of these to turn into hundreds. You can battle them by hand or simply buy a harlequin shrimp and it will solve the problem. However if you have any other types of stars in the tank don't use the shrimp method because it will definitly eat them.

05/12/2009, 03:08 PM	#5
Whys Moved On Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 3,263	Don't buy a Harlequin. Yes, they eat star feet. No, they don't eat anything else. It'll quickly starve unless you want to buy stars for food. But that's a pretty fancy solution.

05/12/2009, 05:05 PM	#6
circusink22 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: pa Posts: 178	these starfish multiply very fast, and yes some will eat or smother zoas, if you buy a harlequin you could put a couple of chocolate chip starfish in your sump/fuge and alternate cutting the legs of to feed the shrimp. or just sell it when the stars are gone. but youll probly want to keep the harlequin, they are very cool and fun to watch eat

05/12/2009, 05:07 PM	#7
circusink22 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: pa Posts: 178	i ment to say some will eat or smother zoas there are many different types of Asterinas

05/12/2009, 05:40 PM	#8
RobbyVonAwesome Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 394	Yep, Asterina starfish. They are more or less harmless until you get a huge amount. Pretty much the only way to control them is to a) pick them off manually, or; b) harlequin shrimp. The problem with the shrimp, as stated above, is that they only eat starfish tube feet. I recommend leaving them be unless you suspect they're doing damage.