Pestie Astria Star's

[heath]

I have these little buggars in both of my tanks... how do I get rid of them.. adding another fish is not an option...

 

[Cliff]

R they actually causing damage? I have had them in every tank I've owned

 

[Joshbrookkate]

I just pull them out when I feel like it. I don't worry about them, but others do.

Pm'ing you, Heath

 

[heath]

@Cliff, not that I have noticed, I have a lot of them and they are gross....
I have been catching them before the lights do on and destroying them...

 

[TORX]

I have had them for a while now myself. I just started removing them manually in fear of them getting a taste of my zoas. I have a ample supply of them in my tank. I was thinking about getting that crab that eats them, but after they are gone, I do not want to deal with feeding it live actual starfish. That is just gross.

 

[thehvacman]

I had alot of them too, and was able to get them under control but manually removing them. If I saw one I would grab it, and if you do this for a while the population will drop off to nothing. Most species are algae eaters, so they really arent a big deal. I understand, I didn't like the look of them everywhere in my tank. Looked like they were going to take over the tank. They are real easy to catch.

 

[heath]

I net what is on the glass every morning, somedays there aren't as many and then other days it seems that the glass is covered with them...I guess I should be lucky, they are the only pest in the tanks or that is all that I have seen and the tanks are in great shape...

 

[SamB]

I agree with Torx's comment that some of the species of these stars can eat zoas
I had lost a bunch of zoas and I thought that it was a water quality issue but it turned out to be asterina star fish munching down on things
Best to grab them with tongs but remember to look under rocks and corals and under zoas because they tend to hide themselves quite well and you think that they are all gone but some will be hiding out !

 

[TORX]

Not a crab...a harlequin shrimp ... still very tempted to get one and then set up to breed the astrea. I personally would find it easier to feed them to a shrimp rather then cut a tentacle off a orange linka or something.

 

[scubasteve]

they wont harm a thing. the ones that eat coral are alot darker in colour and normally die with low oxygen levels during shipping. the more resilient ones eat strictly algae and detritus. they will eat algae that is around heads of zoas and studies are being done to prove if they eat flatworms and eggs or not. if you want them gone remove your starfish if you have any and buy a harlequin shrimp. All they eat are stars

 

[SamB]

Yup pretty cool animals those Harlequins but make sure that you check compatibility as they can't really defend themselves even though they look like they have really big nippers !
Won't last long with triggers, dottybacks, groupers, hawkfish, etc etc
Your coral banded (boxer) shrimp or wrasse will make short work of them !

 

[heath]

I do not want to deal with feeding it live actual starfish. That is just gross.

I agree, I am not mutilating anything to feed him...also, I have sand sifting star fish in the 75g...

 

[ALowe]

I had a huge asterina issue and it was obliterated by one harlequin shrimp. Very much recommend getting one and they're gorgeous. And I know there is MUCH debate on whether the regular white asterinas munch zoas and palys or if they just scavenge dying corals so it appears they eat healthy stuff but I can attest that they mow healthy zoas and palys. Could just be my experience but I firmly believe in eradicating them from your tabk for piece of mind.

 

[heath]

so far they are not touching my zoa's and palys but I don't want to take that chance...will do some research on the harlequin shrimp to see if they are compatible with my other stuff...

 

[ALowe]

so far they are not touching my zoa's and palys but I don't want to take that chance...will do some research on the harlequin shrimp to see if they are compatible with my other stuff...

He will eat your sand sifter. Mine left mine alone until recently he just took one of his legs off. Not a huge deal to get rid of the little bastards tho

 

[SamB]

He will eat your sand sifter. Mine left mine alone until recently he just took one of his legs off. Not a huge deal to get rid of the little bastards tho

Yup mine went through a sand sifter a week !!

 

[heath]

I like my sand sifting star fish.. right now there are 3 in the tank with one going to the pony tank...