Hitchhiker Starfish Good or Bad

[TangySushi]

Is this thing reefsafe?

 

[Lucky Lefty]

those are micro brittle stars.

great to have and harmless.

im actually trying to get a colony of these started in my tank now. everytime i go to my lfs, i try and get a few to bring home from their frag tanks, hoping they multiply in my tank.

 

[TangySushi]

good to know, thanks

 

[nvladik]

I have some also that came with the live rock...

 

[Aerixx]

I think I'm having a bit of the same problem, I bought someones 30g tank for my 20L tank with 5 gal sump, after moving the livestock it caused a mini cycle as expected. Over about 4 days the leathers in the tank started to lean over, I thought they would come out of it, but they started to die, I left them in there for 2 more days( there where 6 of the) hoping they would recover, in those 2 days most of the SPS died, starting with a green birdnest, I got the leathers out but the damage is done. Hopefully the rest recovers.

 

[coralsnaked]

FOWLR safe yes. Reef safe No!

Those are Asterini starfish. All will eat coral. Like certain types of acros the most. Looks harmless but can become a real infestation if left unchecked. Harlequin shrimp eat them and other starfish exclusively.

 

[TreyK]

FOWLR safe yes. Reef safe No!

Those are Asterini starfish. All will eat coral. Like certain types of acros the most. Looks harmless but can become a real infestation if left unchecked. Harlequin shrimp eat them and other starfish exclusively.

Actually no that is not an asterina star...

 

[Coelli]

Yeah, definitely a brittle star and not an asterina. I have a few in my tank that were given to me by a local reefer. I don't see them often and don't know how many are left, but I love seeing their little legs waving around now and then.

 

[sully6956]

Actually no that is not an asterina star...

Agree, Its a mini brittle star, not asterina. Completely harmless, actually help take care of detritus.

 

[Timfish]

I vote microstar and reef safe also. And for the record I have found Asterina stars to be excellent scavengers and welcome them in all my tanks.

 

[CodeBlueMedic]

I've got several inside the rock of my reef tank..I like them...They clean up the inside of the rock and don't mess with my corals.

 

[billdogg]

i vote microstar and reef safe also. And for the record i have found asterina stars to be excellent scavengers and welcome them in all my tanks.

x 1000