Asterinas (Splitting Starfish)

Sander1001 · 01/15/2008, 01:01 PM

How concerned do I need to be with these guys as they are in my tank. I have only caught one munching on some coral the rest just cruise the glass and LR. Mine are white/gray speckled.

phenom5 · 01/15/2008, 01:03 PM

I've got tons...no problems. I wouldn't worry.

Sander1001 · 01/15/2008, 01:21 PM

No need to assume they are eating the coraline algea?

siropa · 01/15/2008, 01:25 PM

Well i've got them all over my 275 and they eat coralline like mad. At this point there is no good way for me to get rid of them, but I would if I could. they do keep the rocks looking pretty clean, so they must be eating other stuff too. small consolation.

J. Montgomery · 01/15/2008, 02:15 PM

My tank is swarming with them and they've never been a problem.

hyperfocal · 01/15/2008, 03:34 PM

Some types can/do eat coral. I lost a stylo frag to an asterina. Good luck getting rid of them, I tried for a week -- the more I removed, the more appeared to fill their "place" In trying to remove them, I just ended up making the 'problem' worse. I haven't had any coral damage since.

I wouldn't worry about it, all things considered.

kydsexy · 01/15/2008, 03:47 PM

i love them. let them eat the coralline

or put them in a 2.5 for your little ones and recycle a piece of coralline rock from your tank every few weeks for them

Saiyan · 01/15/2008, 04:49 PM

Mine eat the coralline but it is never that bad. I did have an outbreak once that must have been to excess nutrients of some kind. They were all over the place. You can pull them out just make sure you don't cut them. Now they are under control.

01/15/2008, 01:01 PM	#1
Sander1001 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: California Posts: 149	Asterinas (Splitting Starfish) How concerned do I need to be with these guys as they are in my tank. I have only caught one munching on some coral the rest just cruise the glass and LR. Mine are white/gray speckled.

01/15/2008, 01:03 PM	#2
phenom5 Unregistered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Arizona Posts: 5,096	I've got tons...no problems. I wouldn't worry. __________________ Rob Current Tank Info: DSA 155 Pro \| ATI Sunpower \| ATB 840 v2 \| Apex \| Wav

01/15/2008, 01:25 PM	#4
siropa Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Neenah, WI Posts: 2,502	Well i've got them all over my 275 and they eat coralline like mad. At this point there is no good way for me to get rid of them, but I would if I could. they do keep the rocks looking pretty clean, so they must be eating other stuff too. small consolation. __________________ See red house for pics. Current Tank Info: 275 reef, 75 FOWLR, 60g frag

01/15/2008, 02:15 PM	#5
J. Montgomery Mouth Pipetting Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Charlottesville, VA Posts: 6,278	My tank is swarming with them and they've never been a problem. __________________ Josh

01/15/2008, 03:34 PM	#6
hyperfocal Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Edge of oblivion Posts: 1,708	Some types can/do eat coral. I lost a stylo frag to an asterina. Good luck getting rid of them, I tried for a week -- the more I removed, the more appeared to fill their "place" In trying to remove them, I just ended up making the 'problem' worse. I haven't had any coral damage since. I wouldn't worry about it, all things considered. __________________ "Froth at the top, dregs at bottom, but the middle excellent." -- Voltaire Current Tank Info: getting back into the hobby

01/15/2008, 01:21 PM	#3
Sander1001 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: California Posts: 149	No need to assume they are eating the coraline algea?

01/15/2008, 03:47 PM	#7
kydsexy Moved On Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Middletown, CT Posts: 390	i love them. let them eat the coralline or put them in a 2.5 for your little ones and recycle a piece of coralline rock from your tank every few weeks for them

01/15/2008, 04:49 PM	#8
Saiyan Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 157	Mine eat the coralline but it is never that bad. I did have an outbreak once that must have been to excess nutrients of some kind. They were all over the place. You can pull them out just make sure you don't cut them. Now they are under control.