[jmuscat2]

Anyone know what this is? Is it good or bad? I saw it a few month's ago. It only had two of the arms. Now I have seen two of these things. One of them has 4 arms complete and three smaller ones. This is the smaller of the two.

 

[hjmtv]

Most people call them assymetrical stars. As for if they are good or not, there is a great debate. If you search this site you will find lots of threads for and against........I think there bad.

 

[DLBerlin]

I thought they were fine for 6 years then discovered they were eating the zoas in our 180.
They dont now though so maybe it was just a few bad ones.

 

[omarizgreat]

i don't know if they are good or bad but fwiw i've had them for over a year now and they only get the size of a dime.(worst thing i've noticed is they clog the filter intake lol.

 

[camelot]

Here is a link to a web site on asterina starfish. That is what you have. http://www.garf.org/STAR/starfish.html From what I have read I believe they are bad and may eat corals. I remove them when ever I see them. They can also multiply very quickly.

 

[jmuscat2]

Thanks for the input. Iwill start removing them ASAP.

 

[Newts]

I've had them in my tanks for 5 years and never saw them do anything accept eat the film algaes on glass and rocks. Never seen them even on a coral, ever.

 

[Sylock]

There are two types of asterina stars that are found in aquariums. One eats only algae and another also eats corals. Dr Ron has stated that 99+% of these stars are the algae eating ones. So just look for what they are eating. If it's obvious they are eating algea then keep them. If you are still nervous and want to get rid of them ... please give them to me. Bio-diversity is a good thing. Plus I'd love to get a harliquen shrimp again someday.

 

[reddhaus]

I've had them in my tanks for 5 years and never saw them do anything accept eat the film algaes on glass and rocks. Never seen them even on a coral, ever.

I also have had them in my tank since day one and have never had any problems. Yes they do multiply quickly.

I have seen them on bubble algae. I don't know they eat bubble or not but if they do, sign me up for a few more.

 

[DLBerlin]

I think there are probably 2 types also.
As I said before-no problems with them for 6 years. I think the ones that ate the zoas must have been a different type, and the zoas werent dying already-they were healhy and did great when I picked off the stars and put the zoas in another tank. And now after several months with no zoas we tried them again and they are fine. Dont just kill them all-they are mostly film algea eaters. Just watch for any that hang out on corals and get rid of them.