help identify

[garyw68]

I found this today on the back of my tank. It looks like a baby starfish but I am not sure. I have one starfish in the tank but not two. Can anyone identify?

 

[Avi]

That looks like an asterina starfish. They are very prolific once in a reef. From what I can tell, they are reef safe, though there are some people that say they are not. I believe that there's some belief that they can feed on some coral like zoanthids, but I doubt it and when it appears that they are, it's just dead tissue or algae they are eating. I have quite a few now in my reef and I've never witnessed them eating live tissue.

 

[fragaholic]

asteria star.

 

[Paintbug]

Asterina for sure.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-06/ac/feature/index.php