Hitchhiker good?
- Thread starter bkostuch
- Start date
They multiple fast and do eat coralline algae. You can see the white marks on the coralline where they come out after the lights go off. 
Confirmed on Asterina sp. The brown/tan ones are usually harmless, although they can multiply to annoying numbers. They reproduce by fission - they tear themselves in half (which is why you sometimes see them with some short arms and some long ones.)
Usually the coral munching variety grow a bit bigger (to about dime-size) and they usually have little patches of red and/or blue on them. They are more rare than the tan/brown variety, which is what you seem to have.
If they bother you, take it out. If not - let it be. In the event you get overrun, a temporary single or pair of Harlequin Shrimp will get rid of them for you - but be prepared to rehome the shrimp when you run out of stars as Harlequins are exclusive feeders.
Jenn
Usually the coral munching variety grow a bit bigger (to about dime-size) and they usually have little patches of red and/or blue on them. They are more rare than the tan/brown variety, which is what you seem to have.
If they bother you, take it out. If not - let it be. In the event you get overrun, a temporary single or pair of Harlequin Shrimp will get rid of them for you - but be prepared to rehome the shrimp when you run out of stars as Harlequins are exclusive feeders.
Jenn
