I found a star i didn't put there

[jason214]

i need an id on this starfish will it hurt me, will it hurt my coral? Help please.

thanx
jason

 

[jason214]

forgot pic oops

forgot pic oops

sorry

 

[Robb in Austin]

Looks like an asterina. Should be ok to keep.

 

[CadetMKultra]

Yay! I heart Asterinas! They'll keep turning up in your tank forever, but are an unobrusive friendly little algae grazer. They're also cute.

 

[jason214]

now i went to my lfs and he said it could be a type of leather eating starfish, and i have also found him sitting on my torch branches, and well there's something wrong w/ my torch that i can't id. Any ideas and do you think the star is related to torch problems?

 

[Robb in Austin]

I did some research after I posted and there are some predatory asterina apparently. He may be part of the problem.

If you have a sump/refuge put him in there if it's not too late.

HTH,
Robb

 

[snorvich]

The non harmful asterinas that I am familiar with are white; I would be concerned about that one.

 

[CadetMKultra]

I have those very same asterinas, and I hope they're not harmful to any of my polyps, but I can tell you some stuff about them. If you've got one, you've got tons. They are exceptionally well camouflaged, and the travel between the filter and the tank with the greatest of ease. For what it's worth, my understanding is that the troublesome asterinas are very uncommon in reef tanks.

 

[psychofishy]

just my 2cents... aren't the harmfull asterinas the ones with like 1 or 2 arms which are a LOT longer than the others..... Like the one in this image:

 

[Myrddraal]

Nope, that just means that it's dropped or otherwise lost a few arms, and is in the process of growing new ones.

 

[o0xerog0o]

I started out with one sand colored asterina... Now there's 5 or 6 of them... I like 'em, so I don't get rid of them. I've only noticed mine on the algae, so I never thought of them as a problem.

 

[jason214]

any one had any personal probs w/ them. I mean if every one just says they could be and they haven't been so far then i'm not to worried, just watch ful

 

[SleepyJ]

I have quite a few asterinas; all sizes and shapes. I have never seen one even touch my coral. They pretty much behave like my snails cleaning the glass and rocks.

 

[jason214]

awesome, good info guys
thanx
jason

 

[DAKOOP]

I have a few that pop up every now and then too. Never seen them touch a coral.

 

[JamesBryan]

Self fragging starfish. That's the reason you see so many without perfect arms.