Starfish ate my mushroom?????

[tyrisis]

THe culpret Pic below, Now this starfish came from the tank that that alll my mushrooms exept for the 1 it ate came from I have 7 left is this usuall behavior for the starfish? I pulled it off when i noticed it was right ontop of it.... ( the mushroom looked magled at this time).. and figured if u can chop em up it should pull through... I put the starfish on the far side of the tank. Well this morning that 1 mushroom is gone with out a trace....

Any comments?????

[rottn]

Looks like a chocolate chip starfish to me. These are VERY predatory critters, and definitely NOT recommended for a reef tank. I guess your experience shows us why!

Sorry for your loss. :(

[tyrisis]

This starfish has been in a reef tank for years!!!! cant figure out y now and only this one mushroom ( want this one so bad it went back across the tank for it the second time... and in 3 weeks in my tank has not touched anything else...

[rottn]

Check out this link... http://www.marinedepotlive.com/1303634.html

Particularily this quote from the above link...


these species are hardy but aggressive feeders, more than happy to mount and consume sessile clams, oysters and all manner of corals, soft and stony

Many times a critter that is known to behave in a certain way will act completely fine for the longest time (a "perfect gentleman" so to speak - lol); however, usually instincts will kick in sooner or later.

Again, sorry for your loss. :(