Fortress Starfish

[Makaiveli]

Anyone familiar with the Fortress Starfish? At least I believe that's it's name. It's big, it's beautiful, and it eats corals. I saw it in a documentary.

[Dale W.]

You are not thinking of the crown of thorns are you?

http://www.divegallery.com/crown-of-thorns.jpg

[Makaiveli]

I believe thats it. Although the one I saw was bigger and prettier. It's the same shape and texture.

Where can we get one for our aquarium?

[becky_e]

You can just fly over to Australia and take one since they're destroying the Great Barrier Reef ;)

[Dale W.]

Why fly over to Australia when you can get them right here in Hawaii.

One of the projects that I am working on is a propagational study of the Triton snail which is the main predator of the crown of thorns. And yes, they destroy reefs. I have seen them in excess of 18'' here.

[Makaiveli]

If a Coral has a hosting crab, the crab protests the coral from the crown of thorns.