Need to stop an asterina outbreak

[handlevandal]

Has anyone here found a critter that will eat them that can live in a reef? I keep scraping them off of the glass and tossing them, have pulled a few off of a candy cane that they appear to be feasting on, but they keep coming back with a vengeance. My parms are good although I do fight with low dKH on a regular basis, yet I don't see anything there that really needs a change. W/C 20% every other week on a 70G with a wet dry, skimmer and Vortech MP40W. No yucky stuff on my sand, and the rest of the coral and critters are fine.

[jimsflies]

Harlequin Shrimp is the only way to really get rid of them. At some point you will need to start feeding the harlequin when it runs out...or trade it to another reefer.

For what it's worth they also siphon out of the tank easily too. I get lots of them that way just off my glass when I do a water change.

[Tom@HaslettMI]

+1 on the Harlequin. Just beware that they'll eat other seastars (e.g. linkia). I'm pretty sure serpent and brittle stars are not on their menu though.

[tankdude]

I used a harlequin shrimp, I worked great just remember to keep feeding it after it has done the job.

[blix70]

i live in newport, work in taylor, but will make the drive if you want to get rid of a few....hundred. JK i'll take any you want to get rid of.

[at]

What are asterina are the a pest like aiptaisia?

[blix70]

little starfish, some people think they eat zoanthids etc...