Starfish ID please

[dg3147]

This one is being sold by KP aquatics in florida (rumored by reefcentral to do well in out aquariums). Any idea what it is? Listed as "Common Starfish"...

 

[rssjsb]

I think it may be asterina forbes, but I'm not sure. I suspect these are mollusk-eaters.

 

[dg3147]

Just double checked the website....lists them as: Echinaster sentus

Hmmm....I have a clam in my tank. What are the odds of it going for it? High I am thinking. Anyone have different experience. Hate to have to re-home the starfish; though, it's an option.

 

[rssjsb]

I had a bad ID day yesterday. After posting my response, I saw another post on this same sea star and realized that I probably had the id wrong. I'm not sure what e. sentus eats. Maybe biofilm, I'm not sure anyone really knows.

I did a little research when considering these a while back for my own tank and was worried about my cleanup crew but also worried that it wouldn't get enough to eat - a common concern for sea stars other than brittles or serpents. In more recent threads, some people have reported having these guys for a year or more in established larger tanks, so you may be fine.

So I guess the bottom line is: please don't get nervous based what I said yesterday.