Help Identifying tiny starfish.

[epic562]

Found this little hitchhiker on my glass... Hoping for some help identifying before I loose him.

Thanks

 

[Calappidae]

Asterina, they will rapidly multiple to uncontrollable numbers.

They are generally harmless, but certain species are not reef safe and there is 0 indication whether or not it is unless you learn the hard way.

 

[epic562]

Asterina, they will rapidly multiple to uncontrollable numbers.

They are generally harmless, but certain species are not reef safe and there is 0 indication whether or not it is unless you learn the hard way.

The only option then is banishment... now I worry there may be more :uhoh2:

 

[timmydatoolman]

Yikes, Do you realize some of them are safe. I know they do multiply fast, if you want them out get them out now!

 

[epic562]

:facepalm:...he got away...

 

[epic562]

My tank is primarily soft corals with a deep sand bed so yeah it's a concern... tank itself has only been running for about a year and a half and the corals are all less than 3 months... I assume he tagged along with one of my recent purchases.

I hear if they get out of hand Harlequin Shrimp can take care of the problem... Fingers crossed its one of the good guys and that wont be needed.

 

[Fish_LOVEr]

if your tank had linkia starfish , just left these guys alone . your linkia will consume them

 

[ncaldwell]

Even if they got out of control it would only be enough food for a harlequin shrimp for a few days. They eat them like skittles then run out. Unless you can rent one lol

 

[epic562]

Update: Good News Everyone, they are leaving the corals alone. I started a small 10 gallon tank so they can propagate... It's not costing me anything, I use what I pull from water changes to top off the tank and pull the little dudes out of the 55 when I see them. A few locals I know have Harlequins and it turns out these little guys have trade value.

 

[Shawn O]

If I could be certain the ones in my tank would not harm corals, whenever I do eventually start keeping corals, I'd leave them alone. But since I don't know for sure, and they multiply as fast as I pull them out, they get plucked off the rock sand glass whenever I go into the tank. They get "The Suds" treatment.

 

[Umbra]

If you're noticing them and have no apparent decline on any of your corals, they're probably harmless algae grazers. I'd leave em in and manually remove some if they overpopulate - IMO always better to have more biodiversity!