Cyano Starfish

[red13miller]

Can Cyano harm starfish?

[Sk8r]

Doubt it. I hoped you'd discovered one that would eat it.

[DavidA717]

apparently black margarita snails are known to eat cyano... but i have 4 of 'em and i havent seen a dent in my cyano yet

[nauticac4]

my margaritas made a dent in mine. However they lack the ability to turn themselves over when they fall and it has led to some dead and me being annoyed having to flip them back over.

[m2434]

Originally posted by Sk8r
Doubt it.

Why would you say this? Some types of cyano can produce really nasty toxins.

[red13miller]

So does any one know for sure?!

[rustybucket145]

what kind of starfish do you have? There are millions of kinds.

[red13miller]

I have the Red Sea Star (Fromia milleporella)

[m2434]

I assume Sk8r meant that common stains are not often toxic. However, there are other strains that are. I'm fairly sure some of these could harm a starfish: they could even harm you.

[red13miller]

So then Cyano can harm my starfish

[m2434]

It might help to know why you are asking.

However, generally speaking, not all cyanobacteria produces harmful cyanotoxins and I'm not 100% sure about the effect of cyanotoxins on starfish. Cyanotoxins however, can be quite harmful to aquatic life in general and even humans. I personally believe that many unexplained losses are actually the result of cyanobacteria. Cyano is often overlooked and these effects may be attributed to other less likely causes such as coral warfare, but this is just my opinion..