star fish

[Booboo33062]

I got some live rock awhile back and later started noticing tiny star fish in my tank. They don't seem to be causing any problems but I have so many I fear later they may cause a problem and will be hard to get rid of. Is there any thing that will get rid of them naturally? I pull some out when I can, but not nearly all of them. There is one that fit on top of a nickle including it's legs. They seem to stay on the glass mostly, but at night I notice they get on the rocks. They don't usually stay on the sand that I've noticed. They are light sand colored.
Thanks,

[bosscrab]

astroidea starfish


This small star may be one of several species that hitchhikes into our tanks (Class: Astroidea). They are probably harmless algal grazers and detritivores, however, they should be watched carefully as many starfish are coral predators. They may have as few as 2 to as many as 6 fully formed arms. They commonly emerge from shelter at night.

[crvz]

Are they white and assymetrical? Probably asterina stars, and 95% of the time they're completely harmless. If you want to get rid of them, harlequin shrimp dine solely on starfish, but they may eliminate all the starfish in your tank, and then you'll have to add starfish for them to eat, which can sometimes get spendy.

[Booboo33062]

That sounds like what I have. Mine are always out though. I kind of like them, but there are just so many. I'll have to see if I see more after dark. I hoped they would clean my sand.

[crvz]

They're most likely film algae eaters, so I doubt they're helping your sand.

[aquawolf]

The reason they are on the glass is they are eating the film algae layer that is forming on the glass. It has been said that if you see them on the ployps of your zoanthids then you need to remove that type from the tank. My tank is loaded with Asterinas and they haven't caused any problems, although they don't really seem to help out all that much in the algae eating department either.

Here are a couple of really close up pics to share:

[Booboo33062]

That is true because I still have the use my algae magnet every three or four days.

[x1fstsolx]

i havent had any starfish yet, but i have little snails all over the place i scrap them every few weeks

[Loverotties]

Great closeups!