Hitchhiker starfish on new clam.

[AcroSteve]

I am acclimating my 3 new clams as I type this. One of which is a crocea that has a small(1/4") starfish on the shell near the mantle. It has not moved in over an hour.

No good pics yet, but it is compact and blocky. Looks very similar to the Asterina sp. Since these are potentially dangerous, I think I will place it in qt for now.

I found the similar pic in Invertebrates by Julian Sprung. Page 201 for reference.

Other than that, there also seems to be a couple of aptasia on the rock the crocea is attached to. I think a little kalk paste will take care of them.

What is the opinion of the small feather duster worms on clam shells. I know they will re-colonize in the future, but I am considering taking them off of the clams now.

 

[Frisco]

what did you end up doing?

 

[AcroSteve]

Well, the little guy is still in a qt situation with a small piece of live rock.

I did a search and and the felling is that 90% of the are ok.

Well, the one I have looks like the pic in the book, and they are eating polyps.

I would like to keep it if I could contain it(them) to the refuge. But I do not think I will take the chance.

 

[Charlie Davidson]

tell me a little more about the Kalk paste please! I may need it soon!

 

[AcroSteve]

I just mixed up some kalk and RO water untill it was like drywall mudd. Should keep for a while.

Not real sure how to apply it well under water, I apply it out of the tank and then when I return the piece to the tank, the kalk stays there.