Is this hitchhiker that was in the bag of coral I bought a sand sifting starfish?

[DannoOMG]

Looks like a baby...

Do I put it in my tank? (I don't have a starfish) It is about the size of a pebble. Do I flush it?

Waiting for responses.

*edit* This is probably something called an Asterina Starfish...? Sounds like a flusher? Definitely more than 5 legs...

 

[DannoOMG]

Another pic.

I don't know if there are pest starfishes or something. That is why I asked...

 

[Johniejumbo]

Looks like an asternia star to me. Might look them up and see if it matches. I have a bunch in my tank and I don’t feel they pose any threat to anything but some think they will eat zoas.

 

[Gtinnel]

Looks like an asterina starfish to me also. I personally don't put them in my tank, but some hobbyists say they'll possibly eat zoas.

 

[DannoOMG]

I have a bunch of zoa's in my tank.

Sorry lil guy but you are sleeping with doo doo tonight.

I appreciate the fast responses.

 

[Gtinnel]

I have a bunch of zoa's in my tank.

Sorry lil guy but you are sleeping with doo doo tonight.

I appreciate the fast responses.

That's what I do with them when I find them on frags. They likely wouldn't hurt anything but it isn't worth the risk to me.

 

[Tamberav]

I have a bunch of them. I like them, great algae eaters. I also have a bunch of zoa's that they don't bother. It probably has to do with different species of stars.

 

[KMCA]

To my understanding most asterina's (I hear 80-95%) won't eat corals but a small percentage will, the other reason people don't like them is they can breed like mad and you'll end up with hundreds in even a small tank and the solutions to getting rid of them is basically buy a shrimp that will hunt them all down and then starve to death once they're gone.
They're great cleanup crew but never being able to get rid of them once they are established and the risk of them eating your corals means most people tend to err on the side of caution with them.