Howdy "starfish question"

[DonnyHolland]

Hi I'm new here but I live up in Ringgold. Would love to hook up with some reefers (hehe just couldn't resist)

To the question:
I have several smal star fish 1/4-1/2 in in my 125 reef tank. They have 6 points on them. I found that to be unusual and did several searches without result. My buddies starfishes have 5 points and I'm a little concerned that mine may be of the pest variety or something.

thanks for the help and hope to get to know everyone.

/donny holland
1 month old reefer
Tank specs: 125 gal 2x2x4 oceanic tank and stand, cpr Refuge, Aqua C Pt skim, Spacelight double 250 halide, 3 mag 7's, 1 magni 1200,1 magni 900.
Life: 1 pom pom, 1 baby toad leather(I think), wall to wall zoanthids, pollips, mushrooms, 1 large long tent anenome, 1 med clown, 2 cleaner skunks, 1 fire shrimp, 2 fire scallops *found out to late these aren't good so no lectures lol* 4 pepermints shrimp, 2 camel shrimp, dozen med/large turbos, dozen red leg herms, 2 large brittle stars (accidentaly cut it in half when I was movin the tank and now I have 2), and 1 emerald crab.

[numan]

welcome to TRT

[theplatypus]

Do they look like this

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

[DonnyHolland]

Its got the same number but its not white and I don't see those little tenticals. heres a pic I just took maybe it will help.





Donny Holland

[theplatypus]

Despite the difference in color I would bet that they are an Asterina Starfish. Try searching wetwebmedia.com for more information. HTH

[DonnyHolland]

Thanks, did some reading and I'm pretty sure thats them. Only thing is that these seem a bit bigger than the ones they described. they said they seldom get larger than 1 cm in diameter and I have several that are 1/2 inch in diameter and growing. But regardless they aren't harmful so I will keep until/if , at which point they get out of hand.


thaks again for the help. What is your tank?

/donny holland

[Wolfenbuttel]

Welcome to trt

Wolf

[theplatypus]

thaks again for the help. What is your tank?

/donny holland

That is a TRT secret.

[leveldrummer]

best thing about stars, just keep an eye on them, if they are always on the rocks and glass, usually harmless scavengers or algae eaters. if they are always on corals, pretty safe bet its a pest. toss it. and not to be a jerk, just so you know, if your tank is 2x2x4, its a 120, its the same size i have. i just set mine up too. waiting on it to cycle.

[Loverotties]

Welcome to TRT And I agree with Andy.If on rocks and glass,probley ok and if on corals watch out.

[DonnyHolland]

hehe.... picky picky, sorry 120gal not 125

Yeah they seem to be on the glass pretty exclusively but I see them on the rocks and snails occasionaly, * they like the snale backs lol*

/donny