Asterina's are A-Holes, Will Zoa's grow back without a polyp?

[Hoopster81]

the polyp that I pulled an asterina from a week ago is now completely dead

[3S1K]

Originally Posted by BlueRoofTang

Look in this video...you will see a star on top of a polyp. At the start, the polyp was standing strong, closed, and the star was eating it. As time goes along, the polyp is unable to hold itself up and the star moves away. This is what happens to them. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BxHvlL6zyY

That's is best proof I seen at what those stars can do. I'm going to get a Harlequin asap before I get some new zoa frags.

BTW I moved my frag to my Asterina free Pico tank at work. It seems recession has stopped but have not seen any growth of the purple mat. Hopefully it comes back.

[Hoopster81]

picked up my striped harlequin (bumblebee) today

he is tiny, hopefully he is up to the task

[taricha]

Originally Posted by Hoopster81

picked up my striped harlequin (bumblebee) today

he is tiny, hopefully he is up to the task

Mine came very small too.
He's nearly doubled in size in 3 weeks, despite losing a front claw (maybe territorial dispute with coral banded shrimp pair?) and regrowing it.
Guessing he's always eating. He's not close to getting a handle on the star population yet. But they stay off the corals now and more on the glass.

[3S1K]

The frag didn't make it and purple mat is all gone. And when I thought my work tank was Asterina free guess what I find not to far from the frag plug? Off to the trash can you go little dude.

[Hoopster81]

Originally Posted by taricha

Mine came very small too.
He's nearly doubled in size in 3 weeks, despite losing a front claw (maybe territorial dispute with coral banded shrimp pair?) and regrowing it.
Guessing he's always eating. He's not close to getting a handle on the star population yet. But they stay off the corals now and more on the glass.

yeah mine came missing a front claw

I hope he's finding some stars in there, I have tried giving him some mysis, but he always hides

[jayball]

Originally Posted by Hoopster81

yeah mine came missing a front claw

I hope he's finding some stars in there, I have tried giving him some mysis, but he always hides

Harliquen's are obligate feeders, they only eat the tube feet of starfish. the only way to suppliment their diet is to buy other starfish to feed them, often choclate chip stars are kept to farm arms from them.

(If anyone can prove me wrong please do, I would love to keep a pair)

[3S1K]

Originally Posted by jayball

Harliquen's are obligate feeders, they only eat the tube feet of starfish. the only way to suppliment their diet is to buy other starfish to feed them, often choclate chip stars are kept to farm arms from them.

(If anyone can prove me wrong please do, I would love to keep a pair)

That's what I've read as well. They ONLY eat starfish so after the Asterinas are gone they will starve unless supplemented with more starfish.

[Hoopster81]

I have a bumblebee (striped harlequin), not a proper harlequin.

Per Live Aquaria:

The Bumble Bee Shrimp will feed upon the tube feet of echinoderms, but do not require them for survival. Offer them pieces of frozen meaty foods such as brine or mysis shrimp, cockle, or small pieces of fish. They should be offered these foods daily.

[3S1K]

My mistake, I was speaking specifically about the Harlequin Shrimp with the spots on it.

[Hoopster81]

Yeah the bumblebee is not nearly as cool looking unfortunately

[vashawn]

saw 1 in my over flow last night, but wasnt dark same color as my sand shifting starfish.
going to get a harlequin shrimp

[Zoahoarder]

Originally Posted by BlueRoofTang

Look in this video...you will see a star on top of a polyp. At the start, the polyp was standing strong, closed, and the star was eating it. As time goes along, the polyp is unable to hold itself up and the star moves away. This is what happens to them. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BxHvlL6zyY

Man I wish I had this video about 5 years ago when I was telling people to burn these creature with a flame torch. I had some many zoas get eaten.