what the heck is this?

Stickgal · 11/13/2018, 03:25 AM

I am mid cycle and 15-20 of these have shown up at night. looked through your id threads, but couldn't find them. Good? Bad?

Stickgal · 11/13/2018, 04:50 AM

never mind, found it

mcgyvr · 11/13/2018, 05:43 AM

For the benefit of others...
Picture isn't the best but thats a Flatworm
Potentially a Amphiscolops type which is basically harmless and not something to remove or worry about.

Stickgal · 11/13/2018, 01:29 PM

??anyone?

Stickgal · 11/13/2018, 01:38 PM

MCGYVR, the one I found was a ghost flatworm, don't know the scientific name. And, yes, it said harmless.

Anemone · 11/13/2018, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stickgal

??anyone?

That appears to be part of an asterina star. They reproduce via fission, so you end up with a bunch that look like that.

Kevin

mcgyvr · 11/13/2018, 04:40 PM

Yep..second is an asterina starfish...
Harmless again...a select few claim to have noticed them being problematic...
I have zeen them eat dead decaying coral flesh but never harm healthy ones..

Stickgal · 11/13/2018, 06:36 PM

Great! I thought it looked like a star with missing parts. That's cool!!

clevername · 11/14/2018, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stickgal

??anyone?

half of a starfish, looks like

But fyi, they reproduce like crazy. I pulled out about 20 a day for 5 days... then they finally subsided (when i had my new tank starting up)

Stickgal · 11/14/2018, 03:28 PM

Oh my

hkgar · 11/15/2018, 02:45 PM

I think I have over a thousand in my tank. The glass is covered in the AM before lights on. Shortly after the are nowhere to be found.

nfrench2100 · 11/15/2018, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

Yep..second is an asterina starfish...
Harmless again...a select few claim to have noticed them being problematic...
I have zeen them eat dead decaying coral flesh but never harm healthy ones..

I have to disagree. While they were harmless for about a year or so, I have noticed some of my favorite zoas starting to slowly disappear over the last few months. And the culprit? Asterinas. And I catch them in the act EVERY DAY! I actually keep my tongs on top of my tank now, walk by, look at the zoas and see ATLEAST 1 or 2 at a time hugging a single polyp. I pick them off and drop them on top of my overflow. The top of my overflow is now a cemetery for the ba***rds.

I would recommend pulling them the moment you see them

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

mcgyvr · 11/15/2018, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nfrench2100

I have to disagree. While they were harmless for about a year or so, I have noticed some of my favorite zoas starting to slowly disappear over the last few months. And the culprit? Asterinas.

While you may be right like I said my experience has shown they will absolutely go after dead/dying/decaying coral flesh but never healthy corals.. so there might be another reason your zoas aren't doing well and they are just going after that flesh..
But its certainly possible.. Just never been my experience in near 20 years of experience with thousands of them..

billdogg · 11/17/2018, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

While you may be right like I said my experience has shown they will absolutely go after dead/dying/decaying coral flesh but never healthy corals.. so there might be another reason your zoas aren't doing well and they are just going after that flesh..
But its certainly possible.. Just never been my experience in near 20 years of experience with thousands of them..

^^^This^^^

I have them in all my tanks and always have. If I notice that one system is running low, I'll transfer some from another tank to boost their population. 30 years and counting for me and I've never had one harm a thing.

Anemone · 11/17/2018, 01:24 PM

Just another "never had Asterinas harm anything" supporter - multiple tanks, a wide variety of sessile inhabitants, going on 25 years now.

Kevin

11/13/2018, 04:50 AM	#2
Stickgal Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Alabama Posts: 139	never mind, found it __________________ "I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints..sinners are much more fun.." Billy Joel Current Tank Info: 45g, currently cycling. Plan is mixed reef.

11/13/2018, 05:43 AM	#3
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	For the benefit of others... Picture isn't the best but thats a Flatworm Potentially a Amphiscolops type which is basically harmless and not something to remove or worry about. __________________ Who me?

11/13/2018, 01:38 PM	#5
Stickgal Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Alabama Posts: 139	MCGYVR, the one I found was a ghost flatworm, don't know the scientific name. And, yes, it said harmless. __________________ "I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints..sinners are much more fun.." Billy Joel Current Tank Info: 45g, currently cycling. Plan is mixed reef.

11/13/2018, 04:40 PM	#7
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Yep..second is an asterina starfish... Harmless again...a select few claim to have noticed them being problematic... I have zeen them eat dead decaying coral flesh but never harm healthy ones.. __________________ Who me?

11/13/2018, 06:36 PM	#8
Stickgal Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Alabama Posts: 139	Great! I thought it looked like a star with missing parts. That's cool!! __________________ "I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints..sinners are much more fun.." Billy Joel Current Tank Info: 45g, currently cycling. Plan is mixed reef.

11/14/2018, 03:28 PM	#10
Stickgal Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Alabama Posts: 139	Oh my __________________ "I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints..sinners are much more fun.." Billy Joel Current Tank Info: 45g, currently cycling. Plan is mixed reef.

11/15/2018, 02:45 PM	#11
hkgar Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Dewitt MI Posts: 5,051	I think I have over a thousand in my tank. The glass is covered in the AM before lights on. Shortly after the are nowhere to be found. __________________ Gary 180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels

11/17/2018, 01:24 PM	#15
Anemone Cloning Around Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Valencia, California Posts: 25,267	Just another "never had Asterinas harm anything" supporter - multiple tanks, a wide variety of sessile inhabitants, going on 25 years now. Kevin __________________ Back in the pool, swimming with the sharks... Current Tank Info: Red Sea 425XL w/Kessil AP700, Vertex 180i Skimmer, 2 x Vortech MP40s