Critter ID - little starfish-type bugs

bmackcw · 10/04/2015, 10:33 AM

I have these pop up all the time. Sometimes they get as big as a dime but then disappear. Wondering what they are. I've had only one small starfish that died pretty quickly about six months ago.

CStrickland · 10/04/2015, 10:36 AM

Looks like an asterina star

billdogg · 10/04/2015, 10:38 AM

Asterina sp.

There are those who swear they are the devil, and there are those who think they are great little detritavores.

I'm a part of the second group. I've had them in all my tanks over the last 25+ years and never had an issue with them. They will multiply if their food source is abundant, they'll die back without. I spread them around to all my tanks.

bmackcw · 10/04/2015, 10:49 AM

I'm an overfeeder, so not surprised. I have no problem with them. Thanks for the detailed answer.

Wilsontank · 10/04/2015, 10:52 AM

Yes asterina starfish, in my experience they are not reef safe and reproduce like crazy ! I have found them on top of some of corals resulting in some of corals to close and not do so good. I also read that they is two different type of them so idk which one you have but I advice you to start taking them out now. I put it aside for weeks and now I'm pulling out like 20-30 every night. You can also get a Harlequin shrimp they will eat it.

cloak · 10/04/2015, 10:57 AM

I don't trust them either.

Until somebody can distinguish the good guys from the bad guys without a doubt, I'll continue to treat them all as bad.

NISMO703 · 10/04/2015, 12:17 PM

Ive started removing them from my system also. I had 2 different types (the dark greyish/bluish and white ones). They will definetely eat your coraline algae but I started removing them when I noticed my zoas closing up.

Bent · 10/04/2015, 02:22 PM

I read a thread on here that linkia stars eat them...

Mr_I_Dare_You · 10/04/2015, 05:31 PM

I had a carpenter wrasse that kept mine under control. They did pretty much wipe out my coraline algea. They never bothered my zoas or anything.

MeghanisradxD · 10/04/2015, 05:42 PM

I've never had an issue with them harming anything, but they do reproduce like crazy and will cover everything eventually.

Wilsontank · 10/04/2015, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_I_Dare_You

I had a carpenter wrasse that kept mine under control. They did pretty much wipe out my coraline algea. They never bothered my zoas or anything.

Does that wrasse really eat the asterina starfish ?

ericarenee · 10/04/2015, 06:19 PM

I have both kinds as well. Never seen them on the zoas but they are Coraline Consuming monsters... I think if you do not have much coraline then maybe they will go for other food source. This can be true with other creates as well such as peppermint shrimp some iffie angel fish... I pull prob 100 to 200 of these out of my tank each week or so ... Been putting the bigger ones in my sump tossing the smaller badly shaped one... They help keep the sump tanks glass clean from coraline build up. I think anyway

10/04/2015, 10:36 AM	#2
CStrickland Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New England, U.S. Posts: 4,595	Looks like an asterina star __________________ If you're havin tank problems I feel bad for you, son. I got 99 problems but a fish ain't one Current Tank Info: 3/2016 upgrade to 120g. Chalk bass, melanurus, firefish, starry blenny, canary blenny, lyretail anthias, engineer gobys, kole tang. Softies / LPS / NPS. <3 noob4life <3

10/04/2015, 10:38 AM	#3
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	Asterina sp. There are those who swear they are the devil, and there are those who think they are great little detritavores. I'm a part of the second group. I've had them in all my tanks over the last 25+ years and never had an issue with them. They will multiply if their food source is abundant, they'll die back without. I spread them around to all my tanks. __________________ 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

10/04/2015, 12:17 PM	#7
NISMO703 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Northern VA - NOVA Posts: 94	Ive started removing them from my system also. I had 2 different types (the dark greyish/bluish and white ones). They will definetely eat your coraline algae but I started removing them when I noticed my zoas closing up. __________________ Bedroom IM Fusion 40 - Kessil A350w mixed reef Living Room IM Fusion 40 - Kessil A360we - currently cycling

10/04/2015, 02:22 PM	#8
Bent I got nothin' Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: The anals Posts: 6,420	I read a thread on here that linkia stars eat them... __________________ Quitters never lose. [QUOTE=CStrickland]Who gets mad at a starfish?[/QUOTE] Current Tank Info: 75g DT, 30G refugium, 10g chaeto tank, 50g stock tank basement sump

10/04/2015, 06:19 PM	#12
ericarenee Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Louisville Kentucky Posts: 3,110	I have both kinds as well. Never seen them on the zoas but they are Coraline Consuming monsters... I think if you do not have much coraline then maybe they will go for other food source. This can be true with other creates as well such as peppermint shrimp some iffie angel fish... I pull prob 100 to 200 of these out of my tank each week or so ... Been putting the bigger ones in my sump tossing the smaller badly shaped one... They help keep the sump tanks glass clean from coraline build up. I think anyway __________________ 240+G Mixed BB Reef tank.. 350 G Marine Pond. And the expensive stuff that runs it. Chic's are for Chic's You silly men Go Fishing or something... Current Tank Info: 240= gal Reef /550 Gallon Saltwater pond 72 G Bay front Tropical aquarium

10/04/2015, 10:49 AM	#4
bmackcw Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 201	I'm an overfeeder, so not surprised. I have no problem with them. Thanks for the detailed answer.

10/04/2015, 10:52 AM	#5
Wilsontank Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 73	Yes asterina starfish, in my experience they are not reef safe and reproduce like crazy ! I have found them on top of some of corals resulting in some of corals to close and not do so good. I also read that they is two different type of them so idk which one you have but I advice you to start taking them out now. I put it aside for weeks and now I'm pulling out like 20-30 every night. You can also get a Harlequin shrimp they will eat it.

10/04/2015, 10:57 AM	#6
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	I don't trust them either. Until somebody can distinguish the good guys from the bad guys without a doubt, I'll continue to treat them all as bad.

10/04/2015, 05:31 PM	#9
Mr_I_Dare_You Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 55	I had a carpenter wrasse that kept mine under control. They did pretty much wipe out my coraline algea. They never bothered my zoas or anything.

10/04/2015, 05:42 PM	#10
MeghanisradxD Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Manassas, VA Posts: 183	I've never had an issue with them harming anything, but they do reproduce like crazy and will cover everything eventually.