So I described this over the phone and was told it sounded like an uneven arm starfish. While it does have uneven arms, it looks nothing like any of the pics I can find on line. Two times now I have noticed that one of my clumps of Paly is being eaten on. Both times I have found this guy on or near them. What is it for sure and is it the culprit or just unfortunate that he is always at the scene of the crime.
Is this eating my palythoas?
- Thread starter Dmcbride
- Start date
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Herefishyfishy
Smart Bass
Astarina starfish, eats algae including Coraline plus dying tissue. NOT PREDATOR
If palys are dying, tank probably has other issues. For specific help, post all specifics. Size, flow, lighting, Ph , and pollution measurements...
If palys are dying, tank probably has other issues. For specific help, post all specifics. Size, flow, lighting, Ph , and pollution measurements...
This is in my 14 gallon Biocube. It has the stock pump plus a hydor 240 nano power head so I am pretty comfortable with the flow. As far as lights, for the time being it has 3 compact bulbs @24watt each (2 50/50 & 1 Actinic), will be upgrading to LED in near future. Ph is 8.0, dKH 14 (not sure if that is a problem being higher) nitrate 0, and phosphate 0.25. I will be doing my water change tonight and putting in some phosphate sponge to lower that back down. All my shrimp and snails are doing great and the other corals are good. These particular polythoas look good and healthy, just looks like something ate a straight line of about 1/3 a polyp head and started on another. So I am not really sure that I would say they are ding so much as being eaten. I just noticed this yesterday and then today.
I do understand about Astarina, but I could not find a single pic that looked like mine. And seeing as how I could only describe it over the phone to the person who identified it, I wanted to make sure that it was a Astarina. I am also aware that the ones with 2 longer arms, vampire, are not good. I just did not want to leave something in my tank if it was not truly what I thought it was. 
Herefishyfishy
Smart Bass
Good info, thanks.
I would do a search on Google for zoanthid eating nudibranchs and after read up on them, do a tank search starting with your palys.
I would do a search on Google for zoanthid eating nudibranchs and after read up on them, do a tank search starting with your palys.
That's a good idea. My only other known hitchhikers are giant bristle worms, who come out all of the time since there is no one to harass them. and the snail type things (can't remember what they are called, just that they are not true snails) so I will be on the look out for sure. I just added a new paly about a week ago so thinking maybe something came in on that and I missed it. Thanks for the help. Also my dKH being at 14 is that okay and if not at what point should I worry it always seem to be a little high in both of my tanks.
Just thinking i might do a fresh water dip tonight as well. I have one other Paly in there, it would be fine to dip it too right? I am wondering if it is nudibranch or spider, either way not a good thing. I only have mushrooms and xenia in there besides the palys. If I QT these plays and then put them in my other tank, will they starve out (if it is spider or nudi)? Or will it turn to mushrooms and xenia?
Herefishyfishy
Smart Bass
The dkh will take care of itself with water changes unless you are dosing which is unnecessary. The freshwater dips might be a good step for diagnosis. The other corals are safe, but QT will not kill it. They need to be manually removed, or eaten by a fish. Marty "FINN" knows quite a bit about this stuff.
justforfun
Humu Humu Nuku Nuku
what fish will eat those bad boys? and will they eat spendy corals too
