COVERED in Asterina stars!

[TomD]

They are everywhere! Should I get a harlequin (sp?)shrimp? But them, it is going to east my serpant I had for ever?

I don't care what anybody says, these stars ate my PSP/GSP. I am POSITIVE!

Overflow/glass=covered! I woudl not mind them if I did not feel they ate my PSP

 

[delta]

They are everywhere! Should I get a harlequin (sp?)shrimp? But them, it is going to east my serpant I had for ever?

I don't care what anybody says, these stars ate my PSP/GSP. I am POSITIVE!

Overflow/glass=covered! I woudl not mind them if I did not feel they ate my PSP

Yeah the harlequin will eat any starfish in the tank.

 

[Crib]

Hey Tom

I received a frag today and found a Asterina star attached. GONE....

 

[chew*]

Tom just out of curiosity, how much coraline algae do you have in your tank?

 

[TomD]

A good amount Brian biut I keep it in check.

 

[TomD]

Yeah the harlequin will eat any starfish in the tank.

Hey, what can I do Greg? I can always buy another $20 serpant....no maybe I will try and remove him for the sumo during the process!

 

[delta]

Removing the serpants should be easy a container full of food will do.

But once your out of asternias you will need to feed the harlequins starfish or sell them to another reefer with the same problem.

 

[Scott]

Asterina got dissed at the meeting today, for sure.

For what it's worth, reading a second opinion over at WetWebMedia indicates that these starfish are benign.

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/asterinafaqs.htm

I've got a few of them that I've seen, nothing rampant. I noticed one hitch hiked in on a coral that I got recently. I'll be watching.

 

[GinaD]

I think the BRS should have one available for loan like the books.

 

[chew*]

A good amount Brian biut I keep it in check.

Was just curious as I have a few asterinas that munch on coraline, I also had gsp controlled growing up the back of my glass, never bothered the gsp, figured maybe if the coraline foodsource was missing that they might locate another foodsource, your gsp.......

 

[Greg Hiller]

>Asterina got dissed at the meeting today, for sure.<

Well, I think to be fair, Mike Paletta mentioned that there are a VERY large number of species of Astrinas. And it sounded like some of them are very specialized feeders. Apparently they often times are of similar color to the things they like to munch on.

So....if you have an Astrina that's eating something, you are not imagining it, but just the same, if you have Astrinas that have never eaten anything, no need to start a vendetta on them. You may want to think twice, and possibly remove if you see one at the base of a newly imported coral.

 

[nickyblase]

If I recall correctly, didn't he say that the 6 legged ones were the bad ones, and in general, the vast majority of 5 legged asterina's are okay?

 

[Pat H.]

Another side note, I had hundreds of these in my big tank until my green wrasse took a liking to them. Now I can't find one in the main tank at all. Has anyone else noticed a fish eating asterinas?

 

[TomD]

If I recall correctly, didn't he say that the 6 legged ones were the bad ones, and in general, the vast majority of 5 legged asterina's are okay?

Is there truth to that? All the ones near the PSP have 6 legs.

I think I am getting the Harlequin. I am sure others can use it when I am done.

Could be worse! At least there is no affect on my SPS and LPS.

 

[GinaD]

Most of my asterinas are so oddly shaped, it's hard to count the legs - but most seem to only have 3.

 

[TomD]

Same here, but many also have 6 in the area in question. Heck, it is only PSP/GSP. Probably an interesting observation.

They are now not opening at all and stars are moving away.

As long as they do not bother my SPS and LPS then I am not too mad about it because who doesn't like diversity in their tank?

 

[Aquaman_68]

FWIW...The six legged ones have rounder tips at the end of their legs!! & they do eat SPS....if you find one with six legs next to an sps with recesion at the base chances are you have a full critter!!! (as was stated at the meeting....they turn the color of the tissue they are eating!!!)

 

[TomD]

Hmm.. NEver seen any near SPS Brian but now that they have eaten the GSP (Probably a blessing) I need to get a Harlequin quick! I am broke until next week too. What do they usually go for?

 

[GinaD]

Maybe someone is willing to loan you theirs for a little while..

 

[nickyblase]

Aha! I knew I had heard something at the meeting. It wasn't easy with little mohawk man screeching and laughing in my ear!

I missed the part about the changing color - thanks for filling in the blanks Brian.