Asterina starfish

kipher · 12/31/2006, 10:10 AM

I found two of these little starfish in my tank last night. I didn't have time to ID them so I caught them and put them in a little tupperware. This morning I found what I believe to be the best example photo of what I caught. Asterina starfish If you go to the link find the Asterina Anomal section and then look at the pic in the top row middle...this is pretty much exactly what I'm looking at. If I am correct, these are coral eating starfish and I should get rid of them. I would like to double check with some of the experts. Let me know what you think.

chemisfun11 · 12/31/2006, 10:22 AM

I have some in my system with no ill effects. A more experienced reefer (20 yrs.) told me they've gotten a bad wrap similarly to bristle worms. Sometimes these inverts are noticed when a coral is dyeing and they have an easy meal, but they themselves are not responsible for the corals death. If you had a crown of thorns in your tank that's a different story

greenbean36191 · 12/31/2006, 10:23 AM

Most Asterina are harmless. Only a very small number ever cause any problems. There is no way to tell the harmless ones from the corallivores, but if you haven't seen problems yet, chances are you have the harmless ones.

kipher · 12/31/2006, 10:46 AM

I don't have any coral yet, but will once I get my new lighting. I have the money, just taking my time to select the proper lighting.

12/31/2006, 10:10 AM	#1
kipher Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Edwardsville, IL Posts: 429	Asterina starfish I found two of these little starfish in my tank last night. I didn't have time to ID them so I caught them and put them in a little tupperware. This morning I found what I believe to be the best example photo of what I caught. Asterina starfish If you go to the link find the Asterina Anomal section and then look at the pic in the top row middle...this is pretty much exactly what I'm looking at. If I am correct, these are coral eating starfish and I should get rid of them. I would like to double check with some of the experts. Let me know what you think.

12/31/2006, 10:22 AM	#2
chemisfun11 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bellmore,NY Posts: 288	I have some in my system with no ill effects. A more experienced reefer (20 yrs.) told me they've gotten a bad wrap similarly to bristle worms. Sometimes these inverts are noticed when a coral is dyeing and they have an easy meal, but they themselves are not responsible for the corals death. If you had a crown of thorns in your tank that's a different story __________________ I wish I could think of something clever to write here... Current Tank Info: Custom 170 gallon 54"x30"x24" low iron rimless glass tank, 20g fuge, 100g sump, AquaC EV 240 skimmer, Geo Calcium reactor

12/31/2006, 10:23 AM	#3
greenbean36191 Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Ft. Lauderdale Posts: 10,598	Most Asterina are harmless. Only a very small number ever cause any problems. There is no way to tell the harmless ones from the corallivores, but if you haven't seen problems yet, chances are you have the harmless ones. __________________ Some say the sun rises in the East. Some say it rises in the West. The truth must be somewhere in the middle. Current Tank Info: tore them down to move and haven't had the time or money to set them back up

12/31/2006, 10:46 AM	#4
kipher Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Edwardsville, IL Posts: 429	I don't have any coral yet, but will once I get my new lighting. I have the money, just taking my time to select the proper lighting. __________________ Brian SEASL & SLASH member For the Best of both Worlds!!!! Current Tank Info: 75G reef, 95 lbs LR, 29g tank as my DIY fuge/sump w/ Quiteone Model 3000 (780gph) return pump, ASM G-2 Skimmer, 1 - 170gph Penguin 660 PH , Seio 2600, 2500gph MJ Mod, Typhoon III RO/DI, 2x250W MH (10K XM's) & 2-36" 96W VHO Actinic