Tiny White Star Fish

walvis · 11/06/2011, 10:06 AM

Are those bad to have, seem like they multiply fast and see many on my glass panel, especially when lights are off.
How do you get rid of them?

TIA, James

esc · 11/06/2011, 10:08 AM

I believe they are asterina starfish. I just removed about 8 of then from my tank this morning. From what I read they are relatively harmless but feed on corraline algae.

walvis · 11/06/2011, 10:15 AM

I got hundreds of them
Wonder if a mandarin will eat them, or any other fish in order to reduce them..

tkeracer619 · 11/06/2011, 10:19 AM

There are hundreds if not thousands of different asternia stars. Some are bad, most are ok. There is no way to tell until they start damaging coral tissue.

I personally have done whatever I could to remove them. I no longer have them.

Depending on your tank size harlequin shrimp will eat them but they will decimate the population in no time flat. After that you will need to feed them a starfish to keep them alive.

I tried that but lost the harlequins after my tank burst a seam. They did great while that tank was set up and when I put my lr back into the new tank I went over the rock under a 250w halide and picked every one I could find off the rock. A few made it but I was very persistent on removing every one of them I saw, regardless of what time it was and what I was doing.

returnofsid · 11/06/2011, 10:19 AM

They are indeed Asterina Starfish. A Mandarin will not eat them. Some Puffers would eat them, but may also eat snails. A Harlequin Shrimp would definitely eat them, but once they're gone, you'd need to provide the shrimp with more starfish to eat.

Misled · 11/06/2011, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tkeracer619

picked every one I could find off the rock. A few made it but I was very persistent on removing every one of them I saw, regardless of what time it was and what I was doing.

This^^^^. I spent a couple months picking them out. Everytime the wife or I walked by the tank. It takes time, but I love my tank without them. Good or bad.

walvis · 11/06/2011, 01:10 PM

Will the harlequin shrimp be OK with 2 fire shrimps I already have in a 300g.
Definitely want to get rid off those star fish, just a nuisance...

11/06/2011, 10:06 AM	#1
walvis Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Orlando,FL Posts: 159	Tiny White Star Fish Are those bad to have, seem like they multiply fast and see many on my glass panel, especially when lights are off. How do you get rid of them? TIA, James

11/06/2011, 10:19 AM	#4
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	There are hundreds if not thousands of different asternia stars. Some are bad, most are ok. There is no way to tell until they start damaging coral tissue. I personally have done whatever I could to remove them. I no longer have them. Depending on your tank size harlequin shrimp will eat them but they will decimate the population in no time flat. After that you will need to feed them a starfish to keep them alive. I tried that but lost the harlequins after my tank burst a seam. They did great while that tank was set up and when I put my lr back into the new tank I went over the rock under a 250w halide and picked every one I could find off the rock. A few made it but I was very persistent on removing every one of them I saw, regardless of what time it was and what I was doing. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

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11/06/2011, 10:08 AM	#2
esc Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 147	I believe they are asterina starfish. I just removed about 8 of then from my tank this morning. From what I read they are relatively harmless but feed on corraline algae.

11/06/2011, 10:15 AM	#3
walvis Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Orlando,FL Posts: 159	I got hundreds of them Wonder if a mandarin will eat them, or any other fish in order to reduce them..

11/06/2011, 10:19 AM	#5
returnofsid Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 3,852	They are indeed Asterina Starfish. A Mandarin will not eat them. Some Puffers would eat them, but may also eat snails. A Harlequin Shrimp would definitely eat them, but once they're gone, you'd need to provide the shrimp with more starfish to eat.

11/06/2011, 01:10 PM	#7
walvis Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Orlando,FL Posts: 159	Will the harlequin shrimp be OK with 2 fire shrimps I already have in a 300g. Definitely want to get rid off those star fish, just a nuisance...