Giant white " Asterina"?

[Whiterabbitrage]

There's a white starfish that I assumed was an Asterina. But last night he was completely out so I could get a good look at him. He's as big as the Fromia. He was on top of a toadstool coral. Cleaning it? Eating it? Don't know. Pulled him off and set him on a kelp sheet. This morning it's unclear if he ate any kelp.

I ordered asterinas from IPSF and they were white on the bottom, dark grey on tip and very tiny. Except one that was all white, larger and more rounded. It looked like a different type. I kept it in a separate tank, and emailed IPSF. It took two months for them to get back to me, but they assured me it was a harmless, herbivore like the other Asterina.

Does anyone have any info/ experience/ input about this? My bf says take it out just in case, but I think he's innocent until proved carnivorous. Suggestions?

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

A picture would really help. I've never seen an asterina larger than a dime.

 

[Whiterabbitrage]

Ok. I really should have taken a pix last night, but did not have my phone. I'll get one the next time he comes out.

 

[Whiterabbitrage]

Cant find the large one, but found one of the smaller ones. Here it is next to a dime. Ive got 3 of these smaller ones that I have removed to a back tank for observation. Ever seen anything like this?

 

[Calappidae]

Bare in mind there are hundreds of different species, getting an ID on one specifically whether it'd be reef safe.. not reef safe.. or just an exact species would be nearly impossible.

Some of my asterinas look that big. I have a few which lost legs from your's truely trying to catching them and noticed some legs grown back even larger or double the size of the other uninjured legs... some even have 8 legs while others have 4!

 

[Whiterabbitrage]

I think the big one drops its arms sometimes as a reproduction method. Then the arms grow bodies. At least that is what it looks like. I'll continue to try to find the big one to get a picture. Do your Asterina cause problems? I never thought they did but I saw one steal food from an Acan and now suspect they may be eating my Zoas. So I rented a Harlequin Shrimp. Do your Asterinas cause you problems Joe? And what the heck are you doing to them to tear off their legs? :spin2:

 

[Calappidae]

I keep them in my 30g O. scyllarus (peacock mantis) tank. They don't bother me and I intentionally added them from a friend's tank so I have a back up supply if there is a food shortage for my harlequin shrimp. They quickly bred but that's what I wanted and they keep the rocks and glass clean, I don't mind looking at the few that cover the glass sometimes.

Mostly from cleaning the glass. I'll "Carefully.." push them off with a credit card and then proceeding scraping the acrylic tank like a mad men. Not the most gentle person in the world when it comes to plucking things off glass.. oops

 

[Whiterabbitrage]

found one last night that is medium size. Still haven't found the huge one again.These guys are cool looking. I need to test to see if they are carnivorous. Right now just pulling them out as I see them.

Hey Joe! Got a Harlequin. Was hoping he would take care of the problem. Looks like you have the Hawaiian type? Nice. I just got one, but he stays in a barnacle. I throw starfish in there when I feed the fish, and he eats it then waits for more. He'll never make a dent in the population at this rate. suggestions?