View Full Version : Biscuit Stars
yunachin
12-28-2007, 1:12 PM
Does anyone know anything that will eat biscuit stars? They are becoming quite a pain.:confused:
Reefscape
12-28-2007, 7:58 PM
Can you provide us with more specifics? its a little broad in my opinion, biscuit star..or a photo of it would be good...
Niko
Grins
12-28-2007, 10:38 PM
Are you sure you're seeing biscuit stars and not asterinas?
Mr.Firemouth
12-28-2007, 11:20 PM
Asterinas are usually confused with the name biscuit stars.
Small Xanthid crabs will hunt them and eat them but the crabs are just as big a PITA.
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k44/mrfiremouth/liverock/crabs.jpg
Reef Lobsters like this guy will eat them also...
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k44/mrfiremouth/macros/debelius.jpg
Finally if you do not have predatory fish in the tank pick up a few Harlequin shrimp. They will decimate them...
http://www.marinedepotlive.com/harlequin-shrimp---hymenocera-picta-inverts--shrimp.html
yunachin
12-29-2007, 12:33 AM
Yes. Asterinas are what they are. Sorry for not being more specific. I do have some aggressive fish in the tank though. Harlequin Tusk being the one I would worry about eating the shrimp. Also do Volitan Lionfish eat Harlequin shrimp? I have some puffers in the other tank so I think that they would eat the crabs and shrimp. Maybe I will just have to deal with them. I just don't want them (asternias) eating my zooanthids.
Grins
12-29-2007, 10:46 AM
Not all will bother corals but ever since finding one on mine and a few hanging nearby I've manually removed them. I'd think the Lion would eat the shrimp if it could fit it in it's mouth
Mr.Firemouth
12-29-2007, 11:02 AM
All of your fish rule out the addition of the shrimp and crabs as efficient biological controls. I would try gathering about 4-5 stars, smashing them, and then try feeding them to the tusk fish. If the tusk fish likes them, then continue this practice for a week and he will then hunt them himself.
If this doesn't work, use a pepsi bottle trap with a piece of clam or mussel from the grocery store as bait. Frozen clams, shrimp, and mussels in the seafood aisle are a great, cheap food source for predatory fish.
yunachin
12-29-2007, 12:00 PM
Great ideas! Thanks!!