tiny starfish question
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: Invertebrates
Forum Description: This is the place to ask questions about invertebrates.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=25380
Printed Date: June 18 2025 at 12:35am
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Topic: tiny starfish question
Posted By: jnjleavitt
Subject: tiny starfish question
Date Posted: April 26 2008 at 1:14pm
| I have had my tank for 2 years and about 6mo ago this tiny starfish just stared growing every where there are about 50 or more all over the glass, rocks every where. Does anyone have an idea of what they are and where they come from? I guess they come from the live rock but I havent put any new rock since it was set up 2 years ago. |
Replies:
Posted By: cl2ysta1
Date Posted: April 26 2008 at 1:53pm
|
if they are small and white they are asternia starfish. they eat sps coral. I would start manually removing them. they reproduce by splitting ------------- I <3 Boxers Achilles tang lover |
Posted By: Riverton_Ten
Date Posted: April 26 2008 at 2:03pm
....and if you HAVE sps coral and want to unload your little asterinas on someone who DOESN'T have sps coral, please please please -- I will save their little lives! Scrape 'em and I'll take 'em (if you live in the southern half of SL county).  |
Posted By: jnjleavitt
Date Posted: April 26 2008 at 2:06pm
| I dont have any coral. Any idea where they come from? |
Posted By: trunks
Date Posted: April 26 2008 at 2:18pm
They are a common hitchhiker on live rock. |
jnjleavitt wrote:Posted By: jnjleavitt
Date Posted: April 26 2008 at 2:23pm
 heres a picture but didnt work to well |
Posted By: Mike Savage
Date Posted: April 26 2008 at 3:52pm
|
They are a common hitchhiker and there are many type of asterina sea stars. Most are safe but some do eat SPS and some do eat Zoas. Some people have them in their tanks with no problems and in some tanks they reproduce quickly.
Mike -------------  |
Posted By: PeggySue
Date Posted: April 26 2008 at 4:33pm
|
Yep, we've all got them. You just picked it up when you brought a frag or live rock home from somewhere. It only takes one to produce an army. If you don't want them, the best time to catch them is at night after lights go out. If you can see them during the day, you have at least 10 times that many in your tank because they are nocturnal. ------------- Famous last words, "Parks, Recreations & Tourism" |
Posted By: jnjleavitt
Date Posted: May 03 2008 at 11:39am
| thanks for the help does any one know what they are called |
Posted By: cl2ysta1
Date Posted: May 03 2008 at 12:17pm
|
asternia starfish ------------- I <3 Boxers Achilles tang lover |
Posted By: Riverton_Ten
Date Posted: May 04 2008 at 12:06am
| ..and when you're sick of them and wanna scrape 'em, I'll take them. THANKS! |