Hitchhiker ID -- Sort of 6 sided Star?

[silentcivilian]

Ok, I could probably find it myself, but I need sleep before work I was just doing some late night sun and mystery coral feeding when I noticed somthing on my back tank wall moving.. so out came the camera, and 25 shots later, this is the product. Thank you for crappy point and shoots that are like 5 - 7 years old..

Thanks in advance ladies and gents

 

[VacavilleFC3S]

asterina starfish, very common hitchhiker

 

[silentcivilian]

I figured it was that. Just wasnt sure as I didnt see any 6 point ones anywhere. Most were 4 point. Any concerns with these guys?? Seems to be nesting near my zoa colonies??

 

[AJSTITAN14]

Well there are lots of species that are all basically identical in appearance so you just need to watch them. If you find one munching on something you care about then you have a problem. Comments about them are split aboutt 50/50 harmless/harmful. So since people with problems are more likely to post than those without yours are something like 80% likely to be harmless. They aren't something to worry about. If you see one having an expensive snack that's the time to step in.

Some people also have asterina that multiply like crazy in their system. This can be a problem because perhaps they don't like looking at them or just don't like having atank overrun with little stars. At heart this is probably some sort of a "too much food" problem.

Common methods of removal are tweezers or using harlequin shrimp to decimate the population.