Cuber54 Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 I wasn't too sure where to post this- but to my surprise - my lil reef tank appeared this baby starfish - I am amazed that my newly set up tank about 6 months just when I thought the tank was taking another cycling dive appeared this thing- my tank is flourishing now and everything is taking on as should be- my question is- how long can this starfish survive in my lil nano tank? Should I remove or keep it? What would be the best thing to do ? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
versace Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 Asterina starfish - not good for Zoanthids Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesL Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 Asterina starfish - not good for Zoanthids That depends on who you ask (on the not good part). I have had no problems with Asternias and zoanthids. There is much debate over this, and it seems to boil down to ther possibly being two types of these. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timfish Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 I've always seen Asterina sp. starfish as beneficial algae eaters and scavengers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jestep Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 Never had any problems with them. I consider these and micro brittles to be beneficial. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerTy Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 Never had any problems either. When my colonies would melt or an sps start stn'ing, they are there to clean up the decaying matter. Otherwise, they left everything alone. Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mo'sMyName Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 I must have had bad ones, because I agree with Versace. IMO asterinas are pests. I'm almost 90% sure they are the main reason why I couldn't keep Rastas alive. I pull out every one I find. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jestep Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 I must have had bad ones, because I agree with Versace. IMO asterinas are pests. I'm almost 90% sure they are the main reason why I couldn't keep Rastas alive. I pull out every one I find. There's a bunch of species of them. I've been luck enough to only have benign ones. http://www.reefkeeping.com/joomla/index.php/current-issue/article/45-reefkeeping-101- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingjames Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 i believe there are a type of asterina that is bad but i have hundreds of the greyish white ones and have never seen them do any harm to any coral Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neon Reefer Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 If they stay on the glass they are good. If they are on the zoas then they are eating them. makes it pretty eassy to tell whats going on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
versace Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 http://zoaid.com/index.php?module=Gallery2&g2_itemId=1426 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluemoon Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 knock on wood. I've only seen them doing beneficial clean up in my tanks. If im not mistaken a few decades ago there was actually a reef keeping method where people sought to have as many as possible in the tank. Edit; BtW i totally remember when i saw my first one crawling along the glass. thought i won the lottery haha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amanda Rene Posted June 6, 2014 Share Posted June 6, 2014 We have a ton of them in all 3 tanks and haven't ever had a problem with them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuber54 Posted June 10, 2014 Author Share Posted June 10, 2014 Thanks folks- I've never seen them before in a tank I owned- obviously it hitchhiked- do they reproduce? And if so quickly? I haven't had any issues with my zoas being attacked- I will monitor- since i posted this- I don't see it anymore- i will keep an eye out Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluemoon Posted June 10, 2014 Share Posted June 10, 2014 off the the top of my head i think they reproduce asexually...which means yes, when you see one, expect more. i had one...now i have...(insert random log equation) in just a few months after seing the first. on a side note, i used to see quite a few in another tank, but now barely any. i don't have any red claws/fins yet, but i think something is definitely eating them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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