asterina stars eating zoas?

Slyguy00 · #1 06-23-2015, 06:51 PM

They deffinitly eat zoas. I have to pick them off my Colonies on a regular basis. If I don't the colony will slowly die off.

christyf5 · #2 06-23-2015, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slyguy00

They deffinitly eat zoas. I have to pick them off my Colonies on a regular basis. If I don't the colony will slowly die off.

Good to know. I'll get pickin!

Thanks for the info guys! I hate the little buggers anyways but now I hate them even more!

Slyguy00 · #3 06-23-2015, 09:12 PM

The starfish could just be taking advantage of an already injured zoa. If you have a large amphipod population they will eat zoas (mostly at night) and then the starfish will roll up and hit the exposed flesh. At least from my experience. They are both a predator for zoas as far as I'm concerned. Best way to tell is take a look with a flashlight after the lights have been off for a few hours. Solution = shrimp and wrasses.

reefwithareefer · #4 06-24-2015, 04:02 AM

Bumblebee/striped harlequin shrimp eat Asterina, but unlike Harlequins, they are not obligate sea star eaters and will apparently eat frozen food. This way, you do not have to worry about them starving, once all the stars are eaten. I started to look for some last week, so if anyone knows where to get some......

monocus · #5 06-24-2015, 04:07 AM

got a bunch if you need them

Myka · #6 06-24-2015, 02:45 PM

There are over 30 described species of Asterina stars, and some definitely do eat Zoas. Harlequin Shrimp can definitely help if there are no fish that would eat the Shrimp. Many LFS will sell you Chocolate Chip Stars for a discounted price if you have a Harlequin, or they are easy to catch (with a star haha) and you can re-home.

reefwithareefer · #7 06-25-2015, 03:11 AM

J&L had some Bumblebee shrimp...$8.00 a pop.

New West 40 · #8 06-25-2015, 06:22 AM

I got one of these guys at JL (and it was so small I thought I'd lost it when he went in). He's been eating the unwanted stars.

Ken · #9 06-27-2015, 06:58 PM

hi christy, I had a lot of these stars awhile back, they were hanging out when the lights were off in the frt of the glass, which makes it easy to pick off, I just keep picking them off each morning until I didn't noticed them anymore, I am sure there may be afew but way better than before. greetings from Campbell River Ken

wreck · #10 06-30-2015, 04:54 AM

I have been battling these buggers for a long time. so the only way to get rid of these is to remove em by hand or get the shrimp?.