Mini starfish ID

[shiftline]

Could someone please ID this little guy.
Are they reef safe? Are they a pest or fine to have in the tank? I got him as a hitch hiker and he has been living in a measuring cup the past week. I kind of like him but want to make sure he won't cause any trouble in the tank

 

[Joeganja]

yes they are reef safe only 1 out of a 1000 are a pest you know? theres always a million to one chance for them to be pests but they are not something to worry about.

 

[Zorro]

That is a Asterina starfish. It is harmless.

 

[shiftline]

Perfect thanks!

Do they reproduce very fast? I kinda of like him and will add him go the tank as long as he wont take over :)

 

[Joeganja]

yea they do

 

[shiftline]

Would you add it to a tank or keep them out? Beneficial algae eater or pest?

 

[Joeganja]

they dont eat algae. if u catch them take them out.

 

[Tahoe61]

Typically where you find them hanging out is what they are eating, ones on the glass are eating film algae, ones frequenting your rocks are probably eating coralline algae, ones on your zoanthids are probably eating your zoanthids.....and so on. So basically just monitor where you see them most frequently and it will give a good idea of what they are dining on. Personally if you start to see more then a couple I would remove them, once the population explodes they are chore to get under control again.

 

[shiftline]

It's only the one. He is kinda cool but it sounds like he will be banished

 

[haleyf1024]

I personally love these guys, they are adorable. I have about 5 in my 110 gallon and leave them alone. They haven't caused a population bloom. Even if they did, I probably wouldn't mind (maybe I would get a harlequin shrimp?).

 

[shiftline]

Well these is only one living Ina measuring up. I just can't decide if I should keep him or not! He came in the back of an all in one tank I got. And lived in the sump

 

[haleyf1024]

Unless you saw him actually eating a coral, I would personally keep him. He looks to be the same type that I have, being greyish with red/pink in the middle. I believe I have read that the grey ones are harmless.