star fish - pest ??

[Allyson]

This little star fish is somewhat smaller than a dime.
Is it a pest, or is it harmless?

Thanks,

Allyson

 

[tapmorf]

They look like little white starfish that usually roam on glass. They are about half the size of a penny with thick legs and usually between one and three legs fully developed.

They are pretty common and appear to be surface deposit feeders - and extend a tiny bit of their stomach through their mouths and walk slowly around digesting particulates.

From what I have read, they are harmless, and considered to be microscavengers.

 

[GreshamH]

astrina sp. some are fine, others are reported to eat monti polyps.

 

[sfsuphysics]

Yeah too many people freak out over those buggers, if you have them you'll most likely not eradicate them all since they do a great job at chamoflauge on rockwork. I've seen them on some montis too, but never saw any real damage, if any damage occurs it might be because there is algae there and as mentioned they excrete their stomach over the area and disolve it then pull it back, so might "eat" indiscriminantly.

 

[GreshamH]

Most algaes have a real hard time taking "root" into living coral flesh. The spots I saw on some poeples couldn't have been done by accidental "digesting", at least in my opinion. FWIW, I have never had the problem myself, and I've had them for eons :lol: