starfish ID source?

[DNickell]

Over the last few weeks I've been seeing a couple of tiny starfish in my tank. They were obviously hitchhikers on something added at some point.

They are not serpent or brittle star varieties, but have thick legs and body. They are a creamy color and appear to be solid in color. Though they both initially had only partial legs, they are both growing fast and appear to have six legs.

So far I have mostly seen them on the glass and occassionally on the rock, never on any critters.

Is there a useful starfish ID site on the web that might help in figuring out what these are? Or does anyone have an idea from my vague discription?

I tend to give new comers the benefit of the doubt, or at least a probation period in which to prove themselves, but I also caught a serpent star eating snails a few years ago and I've been gunshy about starfish ever since.

Thanks.

 

[psychofishy]

Look up "asterina" starfish
Sounds like it could be them.

 

[DNickell]

That's it!! Looks like something I may not want amongst my corals.

Have you had experiences with these?

 

[Featherdusters]

You will see lots of mixed views about them. So I will just say do what you feel most comfortable with.

As for my experience, I never had any problems with them. I had an extremely high population (100-150) at one point, then all of a sudden I was down to 0. I have a theory that something in my tank developed a taste for them, but I am not sure.