help indentifing

[rogergolf66]

Do you know what kind of star this is?
What does it eat?
is it reef same?

Thanks Roger

http://s209.photobucket.com/albums/bb173/rogergolf66/?start=all

 

[LeslieH]

It would help to know what ocean or region it came from.

 

[rogergolf66]

Came from the gulf of mexico

 

[LeslieH]

Thanks. Looks like it might be an Echinaster. There are several species in the region. The most common in the trade seems to be Echinaster sentus. It's known to eat sponges but I couldn't find much other information on what it eats. One post said it's probably reef safe and the diet is much like Linckia - which means it will eventually starve to death. Another post said it will accept meaty foods. As these as constant eaters they rarely get enough to eat and eventually starve.

 

[jaymz101]

Is it local? If so its just a common variegated sea star (i dont know genus species but Leslie H. usually knows her stuff.) They're all over the gulf coast of Florida. Have no idea about their diet or reef safeness though.

By the way, the green guy growing on your bay scallop (Argopectans irradians.... mmmmm, tasty) is Acetabularia spp. Its a calcareous green algae. Harmless.

Is all of your stuff local? All of the livestock in your pics are native to Florida and local to the Gulf coast. TB live rock or avid snorkeler?

 

[rogergolf66]

I think TB live rock not all of my stuff local I have another tank

 

[jaymz101]

Id stick with Echinaster spp. then. Probably sentus or serpentarius. Both eat reef sponges.