A Six Legged Star

[dcombs44]

I was looking in my tank this morning, and I was what looked like a small white baby starfish. I got to looking a bit closer and the closer I got the more it looked like a star, but I seems to have 6 limbs. Is this possible. I really don't have much knowledge about too many species of starfish, but for the most part I thought they all had only 5 legs.

 

[dcombs44]

I was in a hurry when leaving the house this morning, and I'm not at home this weekend. I'll try to find it and get a pic or two posted Sunday. In the meantime, any info on six-legged stars is appreciated

 

[Vanquishxxxx]

if it about the size of a dime, i have lots of them, are there legs all different sizes and stuff, if so those i fine, I BELIEVE, and havnt harmed anythign in my tank.

 

[dcombs44]

Yeah...I've seen two and neither one are quite that big yet. One is close to a dime, but the other one is considerably smaller.

 

[dcombs44]

Yeah...I've seen two and neither one are quite that big yet. One is close to a dime, but the other one is considerably smaller.

 

[Paintbug]

sounds like an Asterina Starfish to me. these guys are usually harmless. i have white ones myself and have never had any issues with them. some will claim they are coral eaters, some species may be, but from my experience with the white ones, they are harmless. they stay small, maybe 1/2" across max. they will split to multiply in the tank as well.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-06/ac/feature/index.php

 

[dcombs44]

They do look like the asterinas only whiter. Thanks for the article

 

[Paintbug]

heres one from my tank, just not a good pic:

 

[dcombs44]

Mine look a lot the same. The two I saw are smaller. The legs look fairly equal in length, except where the top point would be there are 2 legs instead of one. But they are very very similar to the pic you posted.

 

[dcombs44]

double post

 

[Paintbug]

you will see some crazy shapes from them right after, and right before they split. i see them every once in awhile where they look like a worm. ends up being just a fresh leg that was dropped. LOL