Asterina???

[gasguzzler]

What do you guys think? Ive found them in my tank in numbers to about 50. Some have 5 arms, some 6. Ive been pulling them out when I see them until I know if they are harmful. I guess theres 400 different species, but they worry me. I dont want them chomping on my zoa's!!! Heres some different shots.

 

[ophiura]

It is quite rare to have any that are problematic. You CAN NOT identify them by number of arms, size or even color. Watch them, but they will not suddenly "turn" and start eating corals. Most are feeding on films - bacterial/algal and such on rock and glass. It is rare to have a problematic species and most are SPS eaters if they are. To a lesser extent there are coralline algae eaters - not a problem for most, and much less common, IMO, is eating soft corals.
Nearly ALL people with LR have these stars, and it is quite rare overall for them to be problematic.
You will never, however, eradicate them by hand, IMO. I would watch, but leave them.

 

[bojik]

Yep. Which type I am not certain. They look like the ones I Purposefully seeded some from a not so local FS into my tanks. great algae munchers. They have varied leg amounts because they divide to reproduce.

 

[bojik]

The FS I got them from was tyring to knock their populations down with something that ate them, but I forget what he said he put into the tank. The more common hitchhiker starfish ,at least IME, are those mini brittle star ones.

 

[bigred]

I have found that the Orange Linka Stars eat them. My friend had them and we added a Orange Linka and he no more. Also another friend added a Harliquen Shrimp which eats starfish. He also eats good starfish so you have to be careful with them.

 

[gasguzzler]

I have had a few brittle hitch hikers. I know that harlequin shrimp eat stars, but I would never dream of putting them in my tank. I will continue to watch them, but every time they get close to some zoas, I take them out. Some of the research Ive done has led me to believe they are dangerous to softies. Thanks for the help.

 

[bojik]

Originally Posted by gasguzzler
I have had a few brittle hitch hikers. I know that harlequin shrimp eat stars, but I would never dream of putting them in my tank. I will continue to watch them, but every time they get close to some zoas, I take them out. Some of the research Ive done has led me to believe they are dangerous to softies. Thanks for the help.
Most are not dangerous to softies. If they are dangerous to corals , like ophiura

previously mentioned, it is to stonies. They just kinda wander around aimlessly they might even clean any algae off of the softies. Watch and see.

 

[ophiura]

There are several sites that hype this risk. MOST people have these stars and rarely do you hear of any such problems. There are some sites that will nearly tell you to take down your tanks. It is just plain wrong.
There are problematic species, but it is not common. I can definitely say that those I have are NOT eating soft corals. Do you find them on rock, glass? These are not animals that are just wandering aimlessly and "oh! I found a coral!" that is just not how it works. I would watch them, but overall....I wouldn't lose sleep.
BTW, they WILL detect an unhealthy coral faster than you will, probably.

 

[gasguzzler]

ophiura- I find them everywhere, but mostly on the rocks. They range in size from 1/8" to about 5/8". I have only seen one settle on a rare zoanthid polyp and it never reopened and died. Thats why I was concerned. I only have one of these polyps left and dont want to lose it.

 

[05xrunner]

are they dead...to bad i cant buy them off you...I want to get a Harlequin Shrimp and thats what they eat.

 

[ophiura]

Originally Posted by gasguzzler
ophiura- I find them everywhere, but mostly on the rocks. They range in size from 1/8" to about 5/8". I have only seen one settle on a rare zoanthid polyp and it never reopened and died. Thats why I was concerned. I only have one of these polyps left and dont want to lose it.
I personally would look elsewhere to explain your loss. Is this the only coral you have? I really don't know how you will keep them off...really, it would be nearly impossible. It is not commonly a problem...but it could be a problem. However zoanthids also die for various reasons and it is equally possible it is that.
I have heard of people saying some eat soft corals. And I don't doubt them, especially if they otherwise have good growth. But if in general there is not good growth, I would first investigate other things that can go wrong.

 

[gasguzzler]

I have a lot of other corals in there also. There is also maybe 4-5 different species of zoanthid in the same tank. I got this one polyp from a guy I know and it started spreading. The one polyp soon turned to 2, then one died after the star thing. Could be coincidence but the other polyps, including the "mother" polyp are fine.