STARS!!!! help

Discussion in 'ASAP' started by green1_8team, Jul 26, 2008.

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  1. green1_8team

    green1_8team Spanish Shawl Nudibranch

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    May 20, 2008
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    so i just got a new frogspawn and after doing a freshwater dip in flatworm exit and di water i noticed a few stars got into my tank...ihow do i get them out they are so small????
     
    green1_8team, Jul 26, 2008
    green1_8team, Jul 26, 2008
    #1

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  2. omard

    omard Gnarly Old Codfish

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    Silverdale, Washington
    [​IMG]

    Please post pic, or description of "stars"
     
    omard, Jul 26, 2008
    omard, Jul 26, 2008
    #2
  3. suckafish

    suckafish Montipora Capricornis

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    monterey...cali
    with your hand??
     
    suckafish, Jul 26, 2008
    suckafish, Jul 26, 2008
    #3
  4. omard

    omard Gnarly Old Codfish

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    I gave up long, long ago trying to rid my tank of asterina stars.

    Have just learned to live with them...:-/

    To keep population under control, I vacuum all I can get off glass when doing water changes...probably get 30-40 a week on average.

    But great algae eater BTW...
     
    omard, Jul 26, 2008
    omard, Jul 26, 2008
    #4
  5. green1_8team

    green1_8team Spanish Shawl Nudibranch

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    cant get a pic right now but they are small and white...i will try to get one asap...about how fast do they split???
     
    green1_8team, Jul 26, 2008
    green1_8team, Jul 26, 2008
    #5
  6. kFAMOUSK

    kFAMOUSK Skunk Shrimp

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    Apr 12, 2007
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    Location:
    fullerton ca
    I have the same problem. i have tons of small white brittle star fish in my tank all in the sand and arround the bottom of rock. they are very small i saw a bigger one tonight it was the size of a dime all spread out anyone no what they are.
     
    kFAMOUSK, Jul 28, 2008
    kFAMOUSK, Jul 28, 2008
    #6

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  7. phoenixhieghts

    phoenixhieghts Panda Puffer

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    lol its a brittle starfish

    They are harmless and good for your tank - asterinas on the other hand, some are good and some are bad, im regularly taking them off my zoa's!
     
    phoenixhieghts, Jul 28, 2008
    phoenixhieghts, Jul 28, 2008
    #7
  8. omard

    omard Gnarly Old Codfish

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    Bad news..."...how fast do they split..." -- Very FAST. - as I stated earlyier, I can easily pull 20-30 a week off glass...there will be that many back on glass within day or so...

    They do seem to like surface algae on glass...and are very good at cleaning it off where they are at...don't bother coraline.


    Good news...the 'white' ones are generally the "safe" ones. It is the ones that are brownish are the ones to worry about.


    Observation...mine pretty much stay, multiply and thrive on side of tank farthest from the MH. Maybe will not be such a problem in a bright tank...

    And really, now that I know they are not really a threat to anything but algae...I have decided I really kind of like them.

    Interesting microfauna.

    Large, multiplying asterina population, may be just be another sign of a healthy tank.

    If you have them...learn to like and live them...you are not going to have any other reasonable option. :-/
     
    omard, Jul 28, 2008
    omard, Jul 28, 2008
    #8
  9. ssgheislerswife

    ssgheislerswife Ritteri Anemone

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    Location:
    Maumelle, AR
    We have those little brittle stars, they get about as big as a quarter before they split. They keep the rockwork and sand around it clean, so I don't mind them at all...infact I caught a few and moved them to the quarantine and fuge to encourage growth over there. Like everyone else has said, if they aren't harming anything you want to keep and they aren't overtaking anything...leave them be. Certainly don't dismantle your tank getting rid of them.

    FYI!!! Congrats on your frogspawn...mine is by far my favorite tank inhabitant and my sexy shrimp have hosted it and love it as well. Send some pics of it!
     
    ssgheislerswife, Jul 28, 2008
    ssgheislerswife, Jul 28, 2008
    #9