Reef Discussion

[Susan Bates]

Hi I have little silver colour star fish like things in my tank, can anyone tell me if they are safe or a pest please

 

[Sam Parker]

will need pics, but they sound like asterina starfish which are considered a pest by most.

 

[Susan Bates]

will need pics, but they sound like asterina starfish which are considered a pest by most.

Thanks, yet another problem to try and deal with, any suggestions please, I have them in both tanks

 

[Sam Parker]

easy to say now, but not introducing them is the easiest solution.... :)

BUT, now that you have them - you can look into wrasse that eat them or get up each night and manually remove as many as you can.

 

[Susan Bates]

easy to say now, but not introducing them is the easiest solution.... :)

BUT, now that you have them - you can look into wrasse that eat them or get up each night and manually remove as many as you can.

I have a yellow wrasse in one tank but not in the other ,i have clams in there and the wrasse was picking at them

 

[jart]

I didn't realise that many considered them a pest. I had one as a hitchhiker in my first marine tank that split a few times. I think I ended up with 8 x 3/4/5 legged little starfish over a 6 month period.

Susan, when you say "star fish like things" how many are you talking about? If only a handful, then hopefully you can remove a few at a time and keep the population under control that way. If you mean dozens, then... :)

 

[Susan Bates]

I have a yellow wrasse in one tank but not in the other ,i have clams in there and the wrasse was picking at them

I didn't realise that many considered them a pest. I had one as a hitchhiker in my first marine tank that split a few times. I think I ended up with 8 x 3/4/5 legged little starfish over a 6 month period.

Susan, when you say "star fish like things" how many are you talking about? If only a handful, then hopefully you can remove a few at a time and keep the population under control that way. If you mean dozens, then... :)

I would say a hand full, but hard to say as they seem to hide

 

[Savage Henry]

As other have said, you need to look for them at night and remove them then. This would be easier with a red light torch.

A picture would be best once you have caught one.

 

[Susan Bates]

I have caught about 20 out of both tanks so far

 

[Sam Parker]

yep - that's asterina stars. As mentioned above, considered by many to be a pest - but some believe are beneficial. If you had one or two kicking about I wouldn't be worried, if you are pulling 20+ out in a night, then perhaps it is an issue

 

[Susan Bates]

yep - that's asterina stars. As mentioned above, considered by many to be a pest - but some believe are beneficial. If you had one or two kicking about I wouldn't be worried, if you are pulling 20+ out in a night, then perhaps it is an issue

Thanks, been pulling them out each day

 

[ReeferRob]

I don't worry about them in my tanks, they eat nuisance algae. If you want to keep them in check, you'll need a few Bumblebee shrimp to eat them. You can't put them in the tank with the wrasse.