Mutated Starfish...

[ZLTFUL]

OK. I have 3 or 4 little starfish in my tank. They are all the same pale white/tan color and are smaller than a dime currently.
I have one with 6 legs, one with 7 legs and maybe 2 with 2 legs. I swear to God that I don't live near a nuclear power plant.

I am at work so no pictures. They are very robust bodied and the legs are thick as well.

Anyway, any ideas? Are they possibly harmful? I am already dealing with clearing some bubble algae and a major Aiptasia outbreak so I don't need anymore bad news hehe.

Ryan

 

[danch]

probably asterinas, most of which graze algae. I actually just bought some from inland aquatics!

 

[drummereef]

Sounds like asterinas. Do they look like this?

http://www.melevsreef.com/pics/0105/astrina.jpg

 

[dcombs44]

First thought would also be asterinas. I have them of many various shapes and sizes in my tank.

They're the good guys.

 

[ChrisB]

Asterinas probably, the unusual leg counts are common, so no worries.

 

[ZLTFUL]

Whew. Glad to know I have no radiation affecting me or my tank inhabitants. They are fun to watch. They don't seem to move and then you turn your head and look back and they are on the other side of the tank.

 

[chrisqueenz]

Yeah, I had quite a few of those also..

 

[coast2coast7390]

yea theyre mostly nocturnal...when the lights first come on in the morning is usually when you see the most...and when they get out of hand you can get a harlequin shrimp