Nathan Explosion Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 So I am watching the NHL playoffs and I see something on my glass next to a snail and I cant tell what it is. To me it looks like a starfish without any stars..... if that makes sence. Anyone with any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brooks Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 Astrena Starfish. I recommend getting any of them you see you of there. They eat Coralline algae and they can spread rapidly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dustint21 Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 http://www.wetwebmedia.com/asterinafaqs.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+mcallahan Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 get rid of it. Someone said they eat zoas... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nathan Explosion Posted May 7, 2009 Author Share Posted May 7, 2009 (edited) get rid of it. Someone said they eat zoas... I have noticed my zoas have been looking a little down lately. I just wonder where it came from. I have had the zoas for about 1 year now and they always opened up great and ever since I got 2 new cleaner shrimp from (hate to say it PETCO) I noticed the zoas not opening and almost retracting. I wonder how it got in my tank? I just looked on the back glass of my tank and guess what? 7 more, i saw my coarline algea going away but i thought it was because i wasnt adding iodine as often and just stuck to straight water changes to battle a GHA problem i have developed over the past couple of months. Are they safe to grab with your hands? how do i check my zoas to see if there are any atacking (which i am sure there are) them? Edited May 7, 2009 by Nathan Explosion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmanning Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 They are safe to pick them off w/ your fingers or if you prefer use a pair of tweezers. One could of hitch on a piece of liverock or coral plug.......just remember, if you don't want them in your tank......inspect anything new (coral or liverock) before placing it in your display tank. Some hobbyists don't mind having them in their tanks and others just prefer not to. IMO and this is speaking from experience I don't care too much for them. They started to multiply like crazy and the next thing they're munching on the purple coraline.....leaving white patches all over. -Cindy- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
medi Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 supposedly harlequin shrimp work really well to get rid of these little guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kkiel02 Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 Yeah there is mixed opinion on them. I have one and he has been fine. Those harlequin shrimp would get rid of them if you would like to go that route but once he wipes them out you will need to provide more starfish as that's all they eat. I read that they used to be sought after as people thought that your tank was healthy if you had them. But some species have reportedly eaten zoas . I wish mine would eat my coraline algae as it is such a pain to clean off sometimes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesL Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 I have never had problems with the ones that showed up in my tank. Used to see about 5-8 of them in the nano. Now in the 75g, I see one about once a week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prof Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 There are a couple of different kinds that look alike and we all call them asterinas. Most of the ones that I have encountered have been harmless. I think they are really neat to watch and they multiply rapidly. Your choice to keep or remove them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manhorsedog Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 this is what i have heard. The starfish with six or more legs are ok to keep, reason being they do not get big and do not eat zoas. On the other hand you have ones with less than six legs that can get big and might eat zoas. This is only something i heard in a similar thread on another site. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barderer Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 dont know = do kill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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