Id on this starfish?

[Dyepes]

I was at the island earlier this year when I found this starfish being pounded against the rocks by a rough surf while I was hunting for shells. It was originally missing an entire limb, but has regrown it since.

When I picked it up I thought it was dead. The thing was completely stiff and no ne of its little parts underneath were moving, so I figured I would take it home and dry it out for decoration.

I also happen to grab the washed up macro that floats along the shoreline to bring home to my tangs, they really tear it up. Well not only 10 minutes on the drive home my girl peeked into the bucket and noticed the star was on the move, to my amazement.

He is awesome. It buries himself into the sand, and comes up when I start feeding my fish. He moves fats as heck, and literally vaccuums the surface of the sandbed of any detritus and excess food as soon as it hits the floor. After he cleans the surface, he buries himself back into the sand. He does not crawl all over my rocks and tumbles things, he just scavanges the sandbed.

sometimes he will climb the glass, bu he typically falls off in a dramatic display, and he does not get rid of any algae from the glass. I was just curious if anyone could give me a positive Id on this thing.

 

[JetCat USA]

i caught several of them off the seaward side of the second sandbar many moons ago and was told they would eat ANYTHING they could wrap around, i found that to be true, they especially loved hermit crabs. i don't recall the name of them though.

 

[Dyepes]

Sorry guy, maybe he has to much sand on top of him for you to get an accurate id, but this guy cannot be what you caught. This fella has never gone after, nor ever showed interest in going after anything except the sand itself.

He cruises by zoos, gsp's, hermits, snails, and macro all day long and never even slows to go after them. In fact he often runs over small crabs in his scurrying across the sandbed, but he just keeps going and they get up secodns later and continue on their way.

If I may ask, was the star you talking about green with many small red bumps looking like hes got chicken or small pok on it?

I have had that starfish, and yes that one will and has engulfed anything he can wrap his arms around.

But this guy right here in my pic, the nicest and best star I have ever encoutnered. I have gone back to Honeymoon island many times afterwards and have never even seen another again.

I saved it, and he has kept my sand cleaned in the most awkward of places. He even travels in the sand bed submerged. I knew there was a reason I wanted it nice and deep.

 

[JetCat USA]

it was blue and orange, stayed buried in the sand and could haul butt across the tank when it wanted to, one of the fastest stars I've seen.

 

[KUDA]

Why don't fish stores sell those instead of sand sifting stars that eat small beneficial animals and barely ever survive? I would buy one.

 

[Dyepes]

I have had this starfish for at least 4 months now, I hope to se him make it through an one year anniversary. Would still love a positive ID.
He was recovered at Honeymoon Island on the Gulf of Mexico, just north of Clearwater and St petersburg and West of Tampa.

 

[Dyepes]

You know I was just wondering, is it possible to splice this star and create a copy?

 

[greenbean36191]

Why don't fish stores sell those instead of sand sifting stars that eat small beneficial animals and barely ever survive? I would buy one.

It is a sand sifting star. It's Luidia clathrata.

Yes, in theory you could cut the star in two and get two full stars, but in practice you'll most likely end up with two dead half-stars. Regeneration takes a lot of energy and unless the animal is in great condition prior to the split, which the one probably isn't, then one or both halves will die.

 

[Dyepes]

Thanks dearly greenbean, that is definetly the right one. After a little research, it says they do eat certain snails, but I have not noticed them with any interest in my snails, nor have I noticed my snail population taking any kind of decline. Who knows thjough, I have not had him a year yet.