ID please
- Thread starter bowfish
- Start date
btldreef
Moderator
Originally Posted by bigarn
http:///forum/post/3160331
Asternia star ... usually quite reef safe.
+1
http:///forum/post/3160331
Asternia star ... usually quite reef safe.
+1
bowfish
Member
Found a little more info on them.Appears they need to be watched.
Asterina starfish, or more commonly known as Fiji starfish are generally dime sized or smaller with a large body, irregular arm length, and an irregular number of arms. They tend to hide among corals and in the crevices of the live rock during the day and can sometimes be seen clinging to the corners of the tank. This type of starfish has been shown to eat coralline algae and some corals; specifically acropora, xenia, green star polyps, zoanthids, and several types of soft leather corals. These starfish divide across the main body with two or three legs of varying lengths and multiply rapidly. Remove these starfish if they start to bother your corals.
Asterina starfish, or more commonly known as Fiji starfish are generally dime sized or smaller with a large body, irregular arm length, and an irregular number of arms. They tend to hide among corals and in the crevices of the live rock during the day and can sometimes be seen clinging to the corners of the tank. This type of starfish has been shown to eat coralline algae and some corals; specifically acropora, xenia, green star polyps, zoanthids, and several types of soft leather corals. These starfish divide across the main body with two or three legs of varying lengths and multiply rapidly. Remove these starfish if they start to bother your corals.
cranberry
Active Member
They have definately been reported to eat coral. But as the guys said before, they are usually quite reef safe. I want collecting different varieties from people's tanks, I have not seen a coral eating one yet. One looked suspicious one time, when they were lingering on some zoas and ticking them off. The zoas reopened. I really wanted to see it and photograph some coral munching.... didn't happen. I personally think some of the reports are misinterpreted behaviours. Like climbing on corals to eat waste or algae being seen as a coral attack. They will eat your coralline, though. The larger ones can make a notable difference... the smaller ones I don't see much from.
meowzer
Moderator
Originally Posted by Cranberry
http:///forum/post/3160678
Honestly, if I was in your situation, I would look for another 99 other different causes before pinning it on an asterina.
I have loads of Asterinas...never lost anything ...I agree with the above statement
http:///forum/post/3160678
Honestly, if I was in your situation, I would look for another 99 other different causes before pinning it on an asterina.
ophiura
Active Member
It is unlikely it took out the frogspawn. If you are interested in addressing that, we can...it would start with lots of details about your tank.
Do you have a lot of soft corals in the tank?
Since my spaghetti leathers have grown (sinularia) I have lost basically all LPS corals...these leathers are quite toxic, and basically the tank water becomes a soup of toxins that a lot of corals can't handle. Mixing corals like this is something we don't consider, but does explain a lot of otherwise inexplicable deaths.
However the star most certainly would be attracted to a dying coral. Many reports of predation by these stars are likely due to this. However there are some species that are predators - they are rare, and you can't identify them. Even seastar EXPERTS can't identify them. So you just have to watch. The majority of problems are with SPS corals, followed by eating coralline, and then soft corals.
Do you have a lot of soft corals in the tank?
Since my spaghetti leathers have grown (sinularia) I have lost basically all LPS corals...these leathers are quite toxic, and basically the tank water becomes a soup of toxins that a lot of corals can't handle. Mixing corals like this is something we don't consider, but does explain a lot of otherwise inexplicable deaths.
However the star most certainly would be attracted to a dying coral. Many reports of predation by these stars are likely due to this. However there are some species that are predators - they are rare, and you can't identify them. Even seastar EXPERTS can't identify them. So you just have to watch. The majority of problems are with SPS corals, followed by eating coralline, and then soft corals.