Asterina spinulosida - Pest or not?

[ReefMaster]

Hi Guys

Ive got a couple of these in my tank and ive read mixed views on whether they are a pest or not.

What is your experience of these creatures. They havent damaged anything in my tank yet, so if they need to be removed then I must do so sooner rather than later

Here is a pic I took recently of one close up

 

[Mc]

I have also heard these reports about them eating coral specially zoas, but I have never had any trouble with them and I have two of them.

 

[Midasblenny]

Had thousands without any issues but have seen some tanks with them and all softies not happy, perhaps there a few different species that look identical?

 

[archiecrain]

Never had a problem with the ones in my tank....

 

[Evo R]

I had lots and lots of them. They multiply like rabbits!!
Im not to sure on them eating softies?? But i do know that they eat coraline!!

 

[belindamotion]

Yip..says here they can eat you'r Corals...

..This type of starfish has been shown to eat coralline algae and some corals; specifically acropora, xenia, green star polyps, zoanthids, and several types of soft leather corals..
Asterina Starfish - Invertebrate Information Database - Nano-Reef.com

 

[colbar]

I have them and never had any trouble, but then again there are always just a few, and mainly on the glass.

 

[ReefMaster]

I just had a look at this pic again - do you seven hands feeding the mouth

Hi Guys

Ive got a couple of these in my tank and ive read mixed views on whether they are a pest or not.

What is your experience of these creatures. They havent damaged anything in my tank yet, so if they need to be removed then I must do so sooner rather than later

Here is a pic I took recently of one close up

 

[blackghostknife]

oh my word, there are seven hands feeding the mouth, must be very hungry fella

 

[blackghostknife]

crap, i forgot to ask, what is the name of this creatures?

 

[belindamotion]

crap, i forgot to ask, what is the name of this creatures?

Asterina spinulosida...it's written on the photo...

 

[blackghostknife]

i knew that just testing you? ha ha, sorry having a blond moment of note

 

[belindamotion]

i knew that just testing you? ha ha, sorry having a blond moment of note

I know the feeling....had a MAJOR one on Sihaya's post the other night...

 

[Braco]

i have noted a few in my DT but no alarms yet..will be keeping a watchful eye on them from now on...thanks...i always just thought that they are reef safe...apparently not..

 

[Manic]

I've had a few that I've found eating some of my leather corals. Literally found them in the hole in the leather coral.

 

[gMAN]

Dude!!! Yes, they multiply like there's no tomorrow and yes, they will gladly chow down on softies, at least in my experience.... couldn't figure out why my zoa colonies were depleting and then the one night i found this guy feasting on a zoa, and now spend a few nights a week hunting them down!! Get them out if you can and rather sump them....

 

[Achilles]

Experiences with them are mixed , i have never had them eat corals and i have had alot they usually move in when a coral is already dying and get blamed for eating the coral but i think there maybe more than one type of this species so it is possible some are more damaging.

If you have them in a reef setting and want to reduce them buy a harlequin shrimp they are so interesting and beautiful and all they eat are starfish but then make sure you have a continual supply for food.

 

[Nur]

Ive seen my red starfish eat these Asterina spinulosida..

 

[Adee]

mmmhhh, i've had (and still have) loads of these....never really noticed them bothering any livestock in my tanks. I used to pick them off the glass and feed them to my carpet nennie.

 

[rakabos]

The types I have had experience with are algae grazers and the rest were zoa eaters. So if u see them on the glass or rock dont stress. If u see them on the coral, the alarm bells should go off