Opinions of Asterina starfish?

[ChrisPchef]

I’m curious what are your opinions of Asterina starfish? Throughout the years of saltwater reef keeping I’ve heard many mixed reviews. Often hearing it boils down to the type of Asterina starfish. I usually hear people recommending to air on the side of caution and remove any if found. That, depending on the species they can potentially eat corals. I personally have kept them in my tank for around 6/7 years and have never had an issue. After keeping them for so long I’ve started looking at them as a member of my CUC.
I often read that they’re hitch hikers and will inevitably make their way into people’s tanks. However while recently visiting a LFS, for the first time ever, I actually saw them for sale. Charging a pretty penny of 25$ a pop for a single Asterina. I began to wonder if the debate is over on weather or not they’re reef safe. Now I’m interested to hear others opinions/experiences with Asterina starfish. Thank you for your time.

Chris

 

[JPags]

I have them in both tanks. I don’t mind them but they can multiply fast and I have nothing that eats them. So I just make it a habit of taking a bunch out each time I clean my tank. I go after the visible ones on the glass. A few weeks later they are back again.

Just don’t want them to overwhelm my tank

 

[Chris.Reef]

I put them in the same category as bristle stars and bristle , they are a beneficial hitchhiker. That being said they can completely take over a tank in some instances. I let them be until I noticed one night they were completely covering my glass. A harlequin shrimp took care of them very quickly though. It’s outrageous imo that a store would sell them though.

 

[ChrisPchef]

I put them in the same category as bristle stars and bristle , they are a beneficial hitchhiker. That being said they can completely take over a tank in some instances. I let them be until I noticed one night they were completely covering my glass. A harlequin shrimp took care of them very quickly though. It’s outrageous imo that a store would sell them though.

Thank you for your response! In the past I was manually removing them and then went the harlequin shrimp route until they were completely eradicated. After they were all gone I began to miss the little guys. I then asked a friend for a few of his and re-introduced them to my system.
I had to rub my eyes and triple check the glass recently when I saw them for sale. Found it very interesting. Thanks again for your input.

 

[Chris.Reef]

The harlequin grew on me. I still have it and just feed it chocolate chip starfish legs.

 

[ChrisPchef]

The harlequin grew on me. I still have it and just feed it chocolate chip starfish legs.

I loved mine as well, unfortunately with the size of my tank it was a struggle trying to go the chocolate chip starfish route. Once the Asterina stars were eradicated I brought him back to the LFS.

 

[ChrisPchef]

I have them in both tanks. I don’t mind them but they can multiply fast and I have nothing that eats them. So I just make it a habit of taking a bunch out each time I clean my tank. I go after the visible ones on the glass. A few weeks later they are back again.

Just don’t want them to overwhelm my tank

Thank you for your response. You’re right they do multiply quickly. However in my experience, I’ve never noticed mine to grow to a concerning number.