Starfish question

[Slimkasey]

I'm now starting over a Nano reef, and have done the recommended loaf of live rock to start the cycle, but I have found some tiny cute white starfish came with som of the rock.

My LFS, says these are a pest! Is this true, can they be harmful, can they get out of control, how do you get rid of them.

 

[Jmck]

what kind of starfish are they? Some can be a pest, but most are fine.

 

[Slimkasey]

Don't know what kind, they are very small, maybe a couple of mm big, white, looks like a regular starfish, but really small

 

[parrotchute]

They're called asternia starfish. They are USUALLY a safe, non problematic hitch hiker.
Some people claim they eat corals, but it may be just that they are eating unhealthy, already dying ones. Most people have some wandering their tank with no ill effects. In certain conditions they can multiply like crazy.

I'd say keep it, and enjoy them, they're pretty cool.

If they get out of control, a harlequin shrimp will decimate their population.

 

[Smitty]

+1 parrotchute...also if you get too many you can also just pluck them out with a pair of tweezers.

 

[beeguiles]

I'm actually glad I saw this post bc I just found the same starfish in my tank last night as well! Cute little bugger. It looks like a super mini starfish

 

[Slimkasey]

Yes it does, they are kind of cute at least.

 

[Northstar24]

I've got some of these in my 180, they havent been an issue yet

 

[marcah]

I also have them slowly moving about in mine. no issues with them thus far either..