Ohio Reef

Reef Discussion => Inverts => Topic started by: mtamorrow on September 29, 2016, 19:28:14

Title: Help with starfish ID
Post by: mtamorrow on September 29, 2016, 19:28:14

Just saw this guy for the first time. Anyone know what kind it is? Good or bad? A little smaller than a dime(https://ohioreef.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fuploads.tapatalk-cdn.com%2F20160929%2F2eddfba2509165c05feffd37722eb02a.jpg&hash=5bd3f7e946c385febdc4ca4350395c86115ad492)


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Title: Re: Help with starfish ID
Post by: kellyj on September 29, 2016, 20:56:53

Mike,
How big is this starfish?  Hard to tel from the pic.
Kelly

Title: Re: Help with starfish ID
Post by: Steve on September 29, 2016, 21:05:52

I believe it is an asterina star, generally harmless though I have seen them eat zoanthids. There are many different types of them just monitor.

Title: Re: Help with starfish ID
Post by: mtamorrow on September 29, 2016, 21:37:55

Quote from: Steve on September 29, 2016, 21:05:52

I believe it is an asterina star, generally harmless though I have seen them eat zoanthids. There are many different types of them just monitor.

Will do. Thanks Steve!


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Title: Re: Help with starfish ID
Post by: mtamorrow on September 29, 2016, 21:38:50

Quote from: kellyj on September 29, 2016, 20:56:53

Mike,
How big is this starfish?  Hard to tel from the pic.
Kelly

About the size of a big screw head, smaller than a dime


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Title: Re: Help with starfish ID
Post by: Kenn on September 29, 2016, 22:00:18

Asterina Starfish

I leave them alone. There are mixed opinions about them.

Title: Re: Help with starfish ID
Post by: mtamorrow on September 30, 2016, 06:41:58

Quote from: Kenn on September 29, 2016, 22:00:18

Asterina Starfish

I leave them alone. There are mixed opinions about them.

Thanks Kenn. They are officially citizens of my tank now!


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Title: Re: Help with starfish ID
Post by: Humphrey on September 30, 2016, 07:10:40

They can explode though. Once had hundreds, so I got a harlequin shrimp which eraticated them in about 6 months.  Manual removal works too if the numbers are reasonable.

Title: Re: Help with starfish ID
Post by: mtamorrow on September 30, 2016, 08:15:17

Quote from: Humphrey on September 30, 2016, 07:10:40

They can explode though. Once had hundreds, so I got a harlequin shrimp which eraticated them in about 6 months.  Manual removal works too if the numbers are reasonable.

Why is there never just an easy answer in this hobby? ::)

Thanks Humphrey.......I have only seen 1 so far........but now i'm looking hard!

Title: Re: Help with starfish ID
Post by: kellyj on September 30, 2016, 08:21:49

Mike,
If you're going to try to remove them, let your glass get a little dirty and they will come.  It's easier to see and catch them from the glass than on the rocks or sand.
Kelly

Title: Re: Help with starfish ID
Post by: soldiers4christ50 on September 30, 2016, 09:43:26

I'd go with harlequin shrimp. I loved mine. You will have to feed it a chocolate chip star or another type of starfish once all those are gone if you want to keep it alive.

Title: Re: Help with starfish ID
Post by: mtamorrow on September 30, 2016, 10:02:15

Quote from: kellyj on September 30, 2016, 08:21:49

Mike,
If you're going to try to remove them, let your glass get a little dirty and they will come.  It's easier to see and catch them from the glass than on the rocks or sand.
Kelly

Thanks Kelly......the voice of experience!


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Title: Re: Help with starfish ID
Post by: mtamorrow on September 30, 2016, 10:04:03

Quote from: soldiers4christ50 on September 30, 2016, 09:43:26

I'd go with harlequin shrimp. I loved mine. You will have to feed it a chocolate chip star or another type of starfish once all those are gone if you want to keep it alive.

That would be a cool way to go. I'm in a wait and see mode now as I have seen 2 so far, but not sure if it was the same one or not


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Title: Re: Help with starfish ID
Post by: Steve on September 30, 2016, 19:00:47

Unless they are harming corals, they are just another part of the CUC. I have had them in my tank since the beginning. They seem to come and go population wise, no doubt based on food availability. Right now I hardly ever see one.

Title: Re: Help with starfish ID
Post by: mtamorrow on September 30, 2016, 19:17:37

Quote from: Steve on September 30, 2016, 19:00:47

Unless they are harming corals, they are just another part of the CUC. I have had them in my tank since the beginning. They seem to come and go population wise, no doubt based on food availability. Right now I hardly ever see one.

Thanks Steve. I've decided to watch and see. Gonna keep my eyes on the zoa's for sure and as long as they behave they can stay.


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