white tiny starfish: zoa eater?

[thanhreef]

I have a lot in my tank. I see them on the rock, glass, and refugium. I have not had any problems with them. However, couple of days ago, I saw them on a baby zoa. I don't know whether they are zoa eater or not. I have never seen that baby zoa opening again, and then it is dead.

Are they bad or good too keep?

thanks,

 

[mockery]

They are asterias (sp?) star fish and they are listed as a predator on zoaid.com

 

[mvm]

Get a harlequin shrimp to help control them. That's what I did and I hardly ever see them anymore.

 

[thanhreef]

Thank you very much for quick replies. Now I am going to buy a harlequin shrimp to control them

 

[mvm]

The do better in pairs like Charlie said, but they will eliminate the star quicker, needing supplementation. They're pretty cool to watch work in pairs on a large starfish. You don't have any other starfish do you?

 

[jennm]

There are different species of Asterina. If it's just a tan/white color, it's likely harmless.

If it has any red and/or blue with the tan color, it's a coral muncher. You may have to look closely.

The predatory ones tend to get a bit bigger than the harmless ones.

One thing about Harlequin Shrimp - once they run out of food (Asterinas) you will need to provide them with live sea stars as their sole diet consists of the tube feet of the stars.

Jenn

 

[jennm]

What fish do you keep?

Since you're planning on keeping Harlequin shrimp, best to figure out if any of your existing inhabitants might eat them.

Jenn

 

[thanhreef]

Here is my fish list
Flame wrasses
Mystery wrasse
Leopard Wrasse
Picasso clown
Yellow tang
Yellow belly hippo Tangs
purple goby
flame angel

 

[jennm]

One of those wrasses (or all) are likely to aim for the Harlequins.

I'm surprised none of them are eating the asterinas.

Don't do it.

Jenn

 

[mvm]

vista;391818 wrote: Here is my fish list
Flame wrasses
Mystery wrasse
Leopard Wrasse
Picasso clown
Yellow tang
Yellow belly hippo Tangs
purple goby
flame angel

The only wrasse on that list I would worry about is the mystery. They're pretty bold. No way a flame (I have 3) or a leopard would go after them.

 

[kirru]

not to hijack but this may be what is causing my zoas to not open and shrink in polyp population as well, guess i need to look harder, i'm gonna have a thread after i find my good cam and get a pic. thanks for bringinthis to my attention