Should I keep these?

Gravis · 03/18/2016, 02:13 PM

Hi guys!
I bought some live rock for my tank. With them came of course some hitchhiker's!

Are these one's safe to keep?

ryeguyy84 · 03/18/2016, 02:45 PM

that is an asterina starfish, I have some in my tank. I keep them unless they get out of control.

amperidot · 03/18/2016, 03:55 PM

Those guys aren't too bad, but if you plan on have coral, soft or hard, I'd get rid of them for sure. They are a pain in the butt -_-

heathlindner25 · 03/18/2016, 04:02 PM

I wouldn't keep them

billdogg · 03/18/2016, 04:23 PM

I have never purposely removed any, nor have I ever had a problem that I could associate with having them in my systems. I have a variety of hard corals and soft corals and have never seen an asterina bother anything.

jm.02

ryeguyy84 · 03/18/2016, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billdogg

I have never purposely removed any, nor have I ever had a problem that I could associate with having them in my systems. I have a variety of hard corals and soft corals and have never seen an asterina bother anything.

jm.02

Me too, soft coral, lps, sps. No issues. They clean film off glass at night

heathlindner25 · 03/18/2016, 05:39 PM

Mine have an issue with zoanthids, a friend of mine's is attacking his SPS.
I didn't believe it myself but I've seen them eating the flesh

kmbyrnes · 03/18/2016, 06:11 PM

Different species eat different things. The white ones I had were no problem. But then I got some that were more brown radiating down the arms. They ruined my zoas. But a harlequin shrimp took care them. You should be able to fins some threads on the differences.

cloak · 03/18/2016, 07:46 PM

I don't trust them... Until somebody can distinguish the bad ones from the good ones without a doubt, I'm going to continue to treat them all as bad.
The links below sure as hell weren't created because these things are harmless.

http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/index....efkeeping-101-

http://www.coralpedia.com/index.php?...g2_itemId=1426

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

jayball · 03/18/2016, 07:56 PM

Without knowing what they eat it is a risk.
I love mine though, they came to me on the base of a coral from a very old mixed reef that was full of huge healthy colonies so I had no worries about them snacking on coral.

Gravis · 03/18/2016, 08:17 PM

Oh. This is a hard one. I saw some in my old tank today. Haven't had any problems there. Hard to know what to do.

reef4life07 · 03/18/2016, 08:46 PM

I'll get rid off them, I seen them on my zoos, and I think they eat them.

mgraf · 03/18/2016, 09:06 PM

I have never had any issues with them. I like them.

cloak · 03/19/2016, 10:47 AM

Just because your not seeing some of your sps corals stripped down to the bone or a bunch of zoanthids come up missing doesn't necessarily mean that these things are not doing some damage. This can be real easy to miss IMO, especially if you have a large tank. GL

This is not my picture, but you get the idea.

eddiev0008 · 03/19/2016, 10:54 AM

U can get a harlequin shrimp he will eat them all up, the only issue once he eats them up u will have to keep feeding him stars or he will starve

crocogator106 · 03/19/2016, 11:05 AM

I guess you could put them in the refugium/sump.

Hal · 03/19/2016, 11:39 AM

Asterina stars are generally thought to be good things to have. I've actually paid for them. There are a few people who say that they've caused trouble, but they seem to be in the minority. Besides, there's always a subset of the population who say they've had a bad experience with anything (e.g., waterchanges, seriously, there are some people who say they are not a good idea), so I tend to ignore complainers until there are enough of them.

cloak · 03/19/2016, 12:15 PM

"A few people?" lol

I think a lot of people who say that they haven't had any problems with these things might be flattering themselves. Just because your not seeing it happen right before your eyes doesn't necessarily mean it's not happening. Just as an example, set up a small nano tank and stock it with a variety of corals. Throw a bunch of these stars in it and see what happens. I'd be willing to bet that a lot of people would change their tune regarding the safety of the creatures, especially when they're right up under the microscope like that. If you wanted to see it you just might. GL.

chilli_reef · 03/19/2016, 06:33 PM

The white / lighter tan asterina stars do not eat live flesh.
They are clean up crew members. They eat alagaes and dead or dying tissue.
Not live coral. The ones that eat live coral are larger and generally have two legs that are significantly longer then the rest with a much darker color tone.
The leg thing is not Always correct but their larger size and darker coloration generally are.

cloak · 03/19/2016, 06:41 PM

If you don't mind me asking, where exactly did you find this information?

chilli_reef · 03/19/2016, 07:02 PM

Personal experience and Google. Zoaid used to have something on them...
Garf had a big write up available at one time as well.
They used to nick name the bad guys vampire asterina stars.

cloak · 03/19/2016, 07:21 PM

You mean this one?

http://www.coralpedia.com/index.php?...g2_itemId=1426

I couldn't find any information on that site that distinguishes the good ones from the bad ones without a doubt. I tried Google and GARF as well and I couldn't find any concrete evidence either.
Any help would really be appreciated.

Here's another site with some information about these things too btw.

http://chucksaddiction.thefishestate.net/ (Info Links > Hitch Hikers > Starfish)

chilli_reef · 03/19/2016, 08:14 PM

Yeah that's what I was calling zoaid. Didnt they used to go by that name ?

I see what you mean.
Nothing on asterinas on the other site on a specific explanation.
Side note: Kind of odd he has "unknown" underneath a picture of a zoanthid eating sundial snail.
I mean they obviously put a lot in to fact finding for what info is there. Those are pretty well known.

I'll do some searching and try to provide links for the coral eating asterina species.

chilli_reef · 03/19/2016, 08:18 PM

Here's the garf link...

http://www.garf.org/Star/starfish.html

Not very detailed but they have the photo and I believe they name the species as well ?

Reefkeeper mag right here on rc has a very good write up on them as well. Supposedly the asterina family is huge and only like 5% of them are coral eaters. Not really common to find.

chilli_reef · 03/19/2016, 08:26 PM

The species I think is actually mentioned by a reefer in an email showed with the others at the bottom of the page on garfs info page.
Its asterina anomala
http://www.google.com/search?site=&s...terina+anomala

03/18/2016, 02:13 PM	#1
Gravis Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 51	Should I keep these? Hi guys! I bought some live rock for my tank. With them came of course some hitchhiker's! Are these one's safe to keep?

03/18/2016, 02:45 PM	#2
ryeguyy84 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: New Jersey Posts: 2,753	that is an asterina starfish, I have some in my tank. I keep them unless they get out of control. __________________ Current tank: 90G mixed reef. Current Tank Info: 90 gallon

03/18/2016, 04:23 PM	#5
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	I have never purposely removed any, nor have I ever had a problem that I could associate with having them in my systems. I have a variety of hard corals and soft corals and have never seen an asterina bother anything. jm.02 __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

03/18/2016, 06:11 PM	#8
kmbyrnes Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Mesa AZ Posts: 2,055	Different species eat different things. The white ones I had were no problem. But then I got some that were more brown radiating down the arms. They ruined my zoas. But a harlequin shrimp took care them. You should be able to fins some threads on the differences. __________________ 125g Mixed Reef 5/26/2015; 350 Butterfly Dominated FOWLR 11/26/2015 - 11/17/20217 & 07/31/18 to ??? ; 100g Mixed Reef 11/16/2013 to 06/16/2017 Current Tank Info: Too small

03/18/2016, 07:56 PM	#10
jayball Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,671	Should I keep these? Without knowing what they eat it is a risk. I love mine though, they came to me on the base of a coral from a very old mixed reef that was full of huge healthy colonies so I had no worries about them snacking on coral.

03/18/2016, 03:55 PM	#3
amperidot Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Posts: 28	Those guys aren't too bad, but if you plan on have coral, soft or hard, I'd get rid of them for sure. They are a pain in the butt -_-

03/18/2016, 04:02 PM	#4
heathlindner25 Moved On Join Date: May 2012 Location: flowery branch georgia Posts: 3,644	I wouldn't keep them

03/18/2016, 05:39 PM	#7
heathlindner25 Moved On Join Date: May 2012 Location: flowery branch georgia Posts: 3,644	Mine have an issue with zoanthids, a friend of mine's is attacking his SPS. I didn't believe it myself but I've seen them eating the flesh

03/18/2016, 07:46 PM	#9
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	I don't trust them... Until somebody can distinguish the bad ones from the good ones without a doubt, I'm going to continue to treat them all as bad. The links below sure as hell weren't created because these things are harmless. http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/index....efkeeping-101- http://www.coralpedia.com/index.php?...g2_itemId=1426 http://www.wetwebmedia.com/asterinafaqs.htm

03/18/2016, 08:17 PM	#11
Gravis Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 51	Oh. This is a hard one. I saw some in my old tank today. Haven't had any problems there. Hard to know what to do.

03/18/2016, 08:46 PM	#12
reef4life07 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: New Jersey Posts: 480	I'll get rid off them, I seen them on my zoos, and I think they eat them.

03/18/2016, 09:06 PM	#13
mgraf Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Canal Fulton Posts: 741	I have never had any issues with them. I like them.

03/19/2016, 10:47 AM	#14
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	Just because your not seeing some of your sps corals stripped down to the bone or a bunch of zoanthids come up missing doesn't necessarily mean that these things are not doing some damage. This can be real easy to miss IMO, especially if you have a large tank. GL This is not my picture, but you get the idea.

03/19/2016, 10:54 AM	#15
eddiev0008 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 3	U can get a harlequin shrimp he will eat them all up, the only issue once he eats them up u will have to keep feeding him stars or he will starve

03/19/2016, 11:05 AM	#16
crocogator106 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Alabama Posts: 371	I guess you could put them in the refugium/sump.

03/19/2016, 11:39 AM	#17
Hal Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Longmont, CO Posts: 1,889	Asterina stars are generally thought to be good things to have. I've actually paid for them. There are a few people who say that they've caused trouble, but they seem to be in the minority. Besides, there's always a subset of the population who say they've had a bad experience with anything (e.g., waterchanges, seriously, there are some people who say they are not a good idea), so I tend to ignore complainers until there are enough of them. __________________ Some days it's not even worth chewing through the restraints. Current Tank Info: 250g starphire: 72x28x30, BeanAnimal drain with an oversized non-durso emergency drain, 4 inch DSB, 3x Reefbreeders Value LED fixtures, SWC/MSX 300A skimmer, Geo kalk reactor, 3 Vortechs w/bb, carbon reactor, and a RKL

03/19/2016, 12:15 PM	#18
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	"A few people?" lol I think a lot of people who say that they haven't had any problems with these things might be flattering themselves. Just because your not seeing it happen right before your eyes doesn't necessarily mean it's not happening. Just as an example, set up a small nano tank and stock it with a variety of corals. Throw a bunch of these stars in it and see what happens. I'd be willing to bet that a lot of people would change their tune regarding the safety of the creatures, especially when they're right up under the microscope like that. If you wanted to see it you just might. GL.

03/19/2016, 06:33 PM	#19
chilli_reef Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Chillicothe Ohio Posts: 468	The white / lighter tan asterina stars do not eat live flesh. They are clean up crew members. They eat alagaes and dead or dying tissue. Not live coral. The ones that eat live coral are larger and generally have two legs that are significantly longer then the rest with a much darker color tone. The leg thing is not Always correct but their larger size and darker coloration generally are. __________________ "But did you die !" Current Tank Info: 75g nondrilled reef.

03/19/2016, 06:41 PM	#20
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	If you don't mind me asking, where exactly did you find this information?

03/19/2016, 07:02 PM	#21
chilli_reef Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Chillicothe Ohio Posts: 468	Personal experience and Google. Zoaid used to have something on them... Garf had a big write up available at one time as well. They used to nick name the bad guys vampire asterina stars. __________________ "But did you die !" Current Tank Info: 75g nondrilled reef.

03/19/2016, 07:21 PM	#22
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	You mean this one? http://www.coralpedia.com/index.php?...g2_itemId=1426 I couldn't find any information on that site that distinguishes the good ones from the bad ones without a doubt. I tried Google and GARF as well and I couldn't find any concrete evidence either. Any help would really be appreciated. Here's another site with some information about these things too btw. http://chucksaddiction.thefishestate.net/ (Info Links > Hitch Hikers > Starfish)

03/19/2016, 08:14 PM	#23
chilli_reef Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Chillicothe Ohio Posts: 468	Yeah that's what I was calling zoaid. Didnt they used to go by that name ? I see what you mean. Nothing on asterinas on the other site on a specific explanation. Side note: Kind of odd he has "unknown" underneath a picture of a zoanthid eating sundial snail. I mean they obviously put a lot in to fact finding for what info is there. Those are pretty well known. I'll do some searching and try to provide links for the coral eating asterina species. __________________ "But did you die !" Current Tank Info: 75g nondrilled reef.

03/19/2016, 08:18 PM	#24
chilli_reef Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Chillicothe Ohio Posts: 468	Here's the garf link... http://www.garf.org/Star/starfish.html Not very detailed but they have the photo and I believe they name the species as well ? Reefkeeper mag right here on rc has a very good write up on them as well. Supposedly the asterina family is huge and only like 5% of them are coral eaters. Not really common to find. __________________ "But did you die !" Current Tank Info: 75g nondrilled reef. Last edited by chilli_reef; 03/19/2016 at 08:27 PM.

03/19/2016, 08:26 PM	#25
chilli_reef Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Chillicothe Ohio Posts: 468	The species I think is actually mentioned by a reefer in an email showed with the others at the bottom of the page on garfs info page. Its asterina anomala http://www.google.com/search?site=&s...terina+anomala __________________ "But did you die !" Current Tank Info: 75g nondrilled reef.