yet another id question what kind of star

[cadillactattoo]

what kind of starfish and do i want it in the new tank ??

 

[cadillactattoo]

reminds me of the astria only much larger

 

[donrando]

totally, asterina

i once saw one in my overflow that was that size too, funky huh!

 

[cadillactattoo]

So the question is a how big do they get and do I keep it in the reef ?

 

[donrando]

it is fine, and that is def max size

 

[Faciosity]

That's about as big as they get, and being reef safe is a contraversial discussion. There are hundreds, if not thousands of species that all look very similar, and although most are considered reef safe, I have personally seen them eat corals on occasion. The reason I say it is contraversial is because many people will still argue that they don't eat coral even though myself and others have witnessed it. They are known for eating things that are sick, injured or dying, so people can have the misconception that they are eating a coral even though it is just cleaning up afterward. However, I have seen zoanthid polyps perfectly happy and healthy only to be devoured by asterina stars right before my eyes. I still have thousands of them in my tank. I usually remove the biggest ones, but I wouldn't worry about them too much unless you notice them being a problem. If you have one, you surly have more. If you need to get rid of them, pick up a pair of Harlequin shrimp.

 

[jrgilles]

Yea, asternia, hard to ID, hundreds of types. Most are reef safe.

I have tons in my tank and they don't seem to cause any problems.

 

[cadillactattoo]

Cool I have them currently , might as well transfer them, now hurry up stupid cycle!

 

[Scampy]

My asterinas wiped out a bunch of zoas and other softies. Most people will say they are harmless but I disagree. They never harmed anything in the first few years, then like someone turned on a light switch, they started munching corals. I'd get rid of them personally.