You don't know how many Asterina stars you have until...

[Tangerine Speedo]

So, I thought I had a few Asterinas, they really never bothered me. These are a part of my CUC, never on corals, just detritus, etc.
But, when they make two friends and they make two friends etc.
Well I thought it would be cool to get a Harlequin shrimp because I thought I had enough to feed it indefinitely. ( the wife will not do the chocchip star route).
I ended up picking one up. I woke up the next morning with way more Asterina stars at the top of the glass than I ever thought I had... OMG!
I never realized those tiny little stars have an emergency alert system.

 

[DEWreefing]

Amazing how they can sense a predator seeing their reaction. My buddy has a massive amount. Dropped 3 shrimps in and an hour later you could not see through his glass well. 7 months later shrimps are eating pellets and finding food.

 

[cvu]

So, I thought I had a few Asterinas, they really never bothered me. These are a part of my CUC, never on corals, just detritus, etc.
But, when they make two friends and they make two friends etc.
Well I thought it would be cool to get a Harlequin shrimp because I thought I had enough to feed it indefinitely. ( the wife will not do the chocchip star route).
I ended up picking one up. I woke up the next morning with way more Asterina stars at the top of the glass than I ever thought I had... OMG!
I never realized those tiny little stars have an emergency alert system.

LOL

 

[bakbay]

lol — too funny! I leave mine alone — they are super cute when they hang out in the corner when lights are out. No points eradicating your buddies. I rather have these little guys than bristleworms!

 

[Tangerine Speedo]

lol — too funny! I leave mine alone — they are super cute when they hang out in the corner when lights are out. No points eradicating your buddies. I rather have these little guys than bristleworms!

In my 30L I have tons of bristles.... My sand is whiter than when I first put it in there.

 

[bakbay]

In my 30L I have tons of bristles.... My sand is whiter than when I first put it in there.

I used to have hundreds (that means potentially thousands) in my SPS tank. My wife is scared of them - afraid they might crawl out of the tank and bite the kids! Something happened a year ago— I now have zero bristleworm left, which is ok since those suckers look hideous! Ha

I understand that they are part of the hardworking CUC but I’m actually good w/o them. My wife concurs!

 

[Tangerine Speedo]

I those suckers look hideous! Ha

Ever bristle has a mother that loves it....

 

[drexel]

Aquilonastras (asterinas) and bristleworms are both awesome "free" CUC. I don't get why so many hate both? Insert old man screaming at clouds.

 

[Tangerine Speedo]

Aquilonastras (asterinas) and bristleworms are both awesome "free" CUC. I don't get why so many hate both? Insert old man screaming at clouds.

For the record, I don't hate Asterinas, at least the non coral eating ones. But too much of anything has its concerns. Also this way I can keep a Harlequin shrimp.

 

[Shane_RTTV]

Asterinas have been devistating my zoa population for a year… keep them in the sump (no Asterina) and they grow like crazy. Put them on racks in the display and they stop growing…put them on the rockwork and they disappear within a week. I have nothing else in my tank that would eat them and I constantly see aterinas all over them if I put them anywhere they can get to the easily

 

[Shane_RTTV]

Asterinas have been devistating my zoa population for a year… keep them in the sump (no Asterina) and they grow like crazy. Put them on racks in the display and they stop growing…put them on the rockwork and they disappear within a week. I have nothing else in my tank that would eat them and I constantly see aterinas all over them if I put them anywhere they can get to the easily

(No asterinas in the sump cuz I have harlequins down there…lol would put them in my display but they’re just an expensive snack for my mystery wrasse 😂