What are the little white starfish in my tank?
Have you ever wondered what that itsy bitsy starfish is doing in your tank? The sneaky starfish probably hitchhiked its way in on some live rock or new coral, but now there are dozens of small grayish starfish roaming your tank. It’s likely that this ‘outbreak’ of echinoderms is in fact the Asterina starfish.
What does Asterina starfish eat?
Regardless of whether you have natural or synthetic substrate, there are a few species of Asterina Starfish that are known as “non-selective omnivorous feeders”. Even when provided with other forms of food, they eat anything they find, including corals, algae, and polyps.
How can I get rid of Asterina Starfish?
If you’re ready to rid your reef of Asterinas it’s time to enlist the help of the Harlequin shrimp. This beautiful crustacean is a starfish killing machine and will seek and destroy your starfish by rolling them onto their backs and devouring their delicious tube feet.
How does a Harlequin starfish kill a starfish?
This beautiful crustacean is a starfish killing machine and will seek and destroy your starfish by rolling them onto their backs and devouring their delicious tube feet. They will rapidly consume an infestation of Asterina after a few weeks or months of adding Harlequins.
What kind of starfish are used in aquaria?
Within the genus Asterina are one or more species of stars that are prolific in reef aquaria. They usually appear accidentally and have been cultured by aquarists to feed Harlequin shrimp as an alternative to wild-harvested sea stars.
Can a starfish live wholly on incidental matter?
Many folks assume that “starfish” are simply deposit feeders that will somehow find what they need by grazing about the tank. In fact, very few sea stars can live wholly on the incidental matter that grows or collects in aquarium systems.