Asterinas Eat Coral

[andy]

I pulled this little bugger:

http://reef.eldersign.org/images/attack/asterina.jpg

off my new Stylophora frag. Take a look at this pic, see the tissue stripped to the skeleton right above the frag plug? He was eating it, no question.

http://reef.eldersign.org/images/attack/stylophora.jpg

I'll be killing asterina sp. on sight.

[CCR]

What about the white 6 leg little starfish. Are they a problem or not?
/

[andy]

They're baby Asterinas, who turn into dark-hearted coral-eaters like the one pictured above.

[Nyles]

Interesting, I have both and never had a problem, not saying your not (looks like you found the culprit) But I have had no problems with them on any of my stylo types. I will keep an eye out though. Maybe I will stick him on one and see what he does. My asterina seem to love the algae on the LR and back wall covered in different types of algae.

[Nyles]

Just to clarify, there is many breed of this star... here is a brief description.

ASTERINA STARSYou may see little oddly shaped white starfish crawling around on your glass. These are asterina stars. They will split and multiply in your tank. MOST asterinas in our tanks are good guys, but there are some types that munch on coral. Watch them... if they are always on your coral, be wary. If they are cruising your glass, they are probably algae grazers.

[andy]

Lump me into the 'ounce of prevention' crowd. If I hadn't gone home and noticed it at lunchtime, it would have cost me the frag.

Now, I have to be particularly observant. If there's one, there's two...

[Nyles]

Now, I have to be particularly observant. If there's one, there's two...

You got that right, and they are hard to find. Good luck. At least you know where they want to go... he he

[andy]

Got a source for tiny submarine barbed wire?

[Michael7979]

I have heard that the "red" ones are the coral eaters, (like the picture you took Andy). But the "white" ones are algae grazers and usually OK. I watch all of them. I have never had a problem with the white ones.........just thin the crowd when too many show up.

[Reefin']

ikve had the gray/white ones mow down on zoos before on a few occasions

[DChemist]

They're baby Asterinas, who turn into dark-hearted coral-eaters like the one pictured above.

No offense Andy, but I don't think this is an accurate statement (were you joking?)... CCR- were you referring to little brittle stars?

I've had both blue and pink asterinas that haven't touched my corals.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a173/dchemist/sep9starfish.jpg

[andy]

No offense Andy, but I don't think this is an accurate statement (were you joking?)...

None taken. I wasn't joking, and I know it to be true in this case. My wife and I have been watching this particular critter grow for the past few months (he's actually been one of my wife's 'favorites' for the past several weeks), and I know it started life out as one of the little white generic-asterinas we're all familiar with. Do I 'know' it in such a way that I can prove it to you here? No way. Do I 'know' it in the way we all know what's going on in our tanks over time? You bet'cha.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying all little white asterinas grow into Soulless Coral-Consuming Creatures of Evil... some, if not most of them would lead happy lives grazing on cyano, brown algae and diatoms. I'm just saying I can't tell the difference by looking at them and I'm not willing to risk losing corals to find out.

[DChemist]

Thanks Andy- You are absolutely right about 'knowing' things in the way you know what's going on in your tank over time... One on my early 'favorites' turned out to be Aiptasia. Fortunately, I learned quick.

I just didn't want any indiscriminate starfish slaughtering. :-)

[inkto]

I just pulled one of these guys from the tank... he was about the size of a quarter and came in on some new rock that had been in qt for about 3 months. After I moved my coral into the new tank my Tyree LE sky blue mille quickly vanished into nothingness... And the starfish quickly vanished into the freezer. No hard feelings on that one. I'm glad you caught yours in time!




http://reef.eldersign.org/images/attack/asterina.jpg

[Reefin']

i kind of liked drying them out myself.......mmmmwahahahaha.......lol

[rmhuntley]

yeah, I"ve had the white ones do a number on zoos before as well

[NeilsReef]

Here is an article from garf.org about them:

Go to: WWW.Garf.org , Then to "Aquarium Pests" , then to "SPS Eating Starfish" , there is also an "update"

Neil

Sorry, I was not able to make a direct link.

[spayne]

yeah, I"ve had the white ones do a number on zoos before as well
Wh-wh-what!? That's it... when I find 'em I'm going to have to relocate them to the sump just to be safe!

[andy]

Here is an article from garf.org about them:

Go to: WWW.Garf.org , Then to "Aquarium Pests" , then to "SPS Eating Starfish" , there is also an "update"

Thanks for the link, Neil -- exactly the same as my experience, right down to the coloration of the star and the target coral (stylophora).

[impur]

Wh-wh-what!? That's it... when I find 'em I'm going to have to relocate them to the sump just to be safe!

That won't work. It takes just one to go thru the plumbing/return pump and boom, you've got a bunch. I have the white ones, never seen them do anything but eat coraline.

[Nyles]

Spayne: ya they will get back in, I had a single one, and now they are in the sump.

Dchemist: Thats funy you mention that, my first little critter my wife liked... was a atapsia.. She came home to find me shooting it with kalk.. she was like WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MY CORAL!!! Its was almost a shortlived life.....

[powdertang05]

on garf they show them eating corals so what i did was put a harliquin or how ever you spell it to take care of my starfish problem now no more and my tank and corals are happy.

[Jay]

Yep. My zoonathid colonys were closing up then I retrieved the rock and looked close. inbetween the closed zooz was a small asterina star. The ones with the uneven legs was munching orange skirt zooz like they forgot the recipe. He now sleeps with the dandilions on my front lawn somewhere.(enforcer)


Jay