micro brittle starfish

[lxxnp1234]

Hi all,
Yesterday, I bought a people eater zoas colony from a local reef friend. It’s really a large colony, at least 50+ heads and has some hard coral on it. When I was back home, I found there are at least 30+ micro brittle starfish on it!!!!!!
I feel disgusting. Because they almost cover the rock!!
My tank is 14g biocube. What it comes from is a 300g+ tank.
Is the population of micro brittle starfish too much for my tank? Now I put it in a bowl, should I try to pick out some of it?
Thanks.

 

[don1234]

I don't think they will harm your coral, but that many may be a problem. You can try to gently shake the coral to get them to fall off. "Gently". Most of them will die. If you have any other larger creatures in your tank they will become food and some will get sucked up through your filtration because they are so small. I actually like them. I have had a few in my tank as hitchers, but they never make it too long.

 

[tizzo]

Nope they are fine.. Other than being an awesome addition to your clean up crew, they self populate based on how/ what you feed your tank.
No need to pick them off...

 

[ibanez]

I feed them mysis with tweezers every few days when they stick their arms out. They are one of my favorite hitchhikers.

 

[lxxnp1234]

Thanks, guys. I throw away about 20 of them and put the rock into my tank.
I find they have different types. Some are white and black, some are white and red, some are brown and black. Is that normal?

 

[don1234]

Take them to the LFS?