Asterina stars all gone??

[gregzz4]

I asked for your list as I thought somebody might spot a potential culprit

I can't help as I used to have some in my sump and DT, but removed every one I spotted as I'd heard they can reach plague proportions

[Proteus]

Originally Posted by gregzz4

I asked for your list as I thought somebody might spot a potential culprit

I can't help as I used to have some in my sump and DT, but removed every one I spotted as I'd heard they can reach plague proportions

I bought a couple of Harley's. they cleaned me out good but there gone to a new infested home and the stars are on the rebound

[Reef Pilot]

Originally Posted by gregzz4

I asked for your list as I thought somebody might spot a potential culprit

I can't help as I used to have some in my sump and DT, but removed every one I spotted as I'd heard they can reach plague proportions

Thanks Greg, makes sense, and I appreciate the help.

I am not sure when exactly this happened, as I just noticed it today. But I suspect in the last month. The weird thing is, they are still in my sump, although even there maybe not as many.

My tank has been running pretty clean lately. Nitrates always zero, and phosphates near zero. Although I still grow algae on the glass, which is where the asterinas were most often seen before.

SPS is growing really nicely, and great colours.

I should maybe mention one other thing. I can't keep any zoas. I tried twice now, and while they initially opened up, they would soon stay closed, and gradually melted away. Pallys are fine. No sign of any pests. So I have just given up with the zoas. Other softies, LPS and SPS, no problem.

[Reef Pilot]

Also, I forgot that I added a couple of peppermint shrimp a few months ago. They disappeared in the rock work, though, which is why I forgot about them. Do they eat asterinas?

Does a Harley look similar to a peppermint? Maybe I got a Harley by mistake.

[subman]

No mistaking harlequin shrimp for anything else.
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...749&pcatid=749

Maybe the stomatella are out competing the stars for food causing their decline. I noticed a couple months ago a few asterina stars but never any more. I also have epic numbers of stomatella snails so this may be why mine haven't grown in numbers as well

[reefwars]

butterfly is my guess

[Myka]

Asterina populations tend to ebb and flow. I think mainly due to the amount of available food. A person generally doesn't see a huge population in low nutrient, low feeding systems. A lack of Asterinas would make happy.

[Palmer]

Originally Posted by Myka

Asterina populations tend to ebb and flow. I think mainly due to the amount of available food. A person generally doesn't see a huge population in low nutrient, low feeding systems. A lack of Asterinas would make happy.

Given the widespread observation of their disapearance I think a return to the mothership more likely.

[Reef Pilot]

Originally Posted by reefwars

butterfly is my guess

But I've had my butterfly for a couple years too, and this is a recent happening. I have never seen them eat an asterirna, although they do pick away in the rocks all the time, and who knows what they find. I do have a lot of pods, too, which are even visible often in the daytime, crawling around on the rocks.

Having said that, though, I was away last month to Maui for 10 days. Maybe the butterfly (or something else) got hungry and developed a new taste.

Maybe I should relocate a few asterina from my sump back to the DT, and see who goes after them. Then again, would rather not risk another infestation of them.

[toytech]

I had thousands and then same thing one day poof no more , same with the tiny round snails , i guess they just ran out of food or all got the flu and died.