Now I found starfish...

[Shawn_epicurious]

My tank is approaching 6 months old now. I have found quite a few hitchhikers in that time. Some good... some bad.

And now... I just started seeing some smal white starfish on my DT glass. I’ve tried getting a pic, but they keep disappearing before I can set up a camera. I’ll do. Pic as soon as I can...

In lieu of that, are their bad starfish I need to worry about?

 

[andrewey]

They are likely asterina starfish (Aquilonastra). Some love them, some hate them. I'm in the former camp. Most of the species of Aquilonastra are harmless to corals, contrary to what some hobbyists believe ;)

 

[andrewey]

Does it look like any of these?

 

[andrewey]

 

[Cell]

Likely asterina. Most people will remove them because they can multiply fast.

 

[Shawn_epicurious]

The ones I have seen are almost completely white and small... less than half an inch in width.

 

[andrewey]

Likely same genus- unfortunately the pictures are only a partial list, but should have similar body shape and size with differing colorations.

If you're ever able to grab a picture, it should make ID pretty simple.

 

[Billdogg]

I vote for them being asterina sp. as well. Sure, a picture would help! I'm also one who has never had a lick of trouble with them - in fact, I will spread them around in my tanks so that there are always some in each. Just a freebie part of the CUC IMO.

 

[GaryE]

I have a couple in my tank, they're harmless.

 

[Shawn_epicurious]

While I try to get a pic of the starfish, I did just take the pics below. This is on my back wall, under a cave that Ai cannot get to to clean... I hate to ask about a different critter now, but... apparently I just did. Lol

are these little guys a problem?

 

[andrewey]

While I try to get a pic of the starfish, I did just take the pics below. This is on my back wall, under a cave that Ai cannot get to to clean... I hate to ask about a different critter now, but... apparently I just did. Lol

are these little guys a problem?

Spirorbis- completely harmless. Great filter feeders.

 

[andrewey]

So far you've got a pretty good clean up crew going ;) Throw in some more Sabellidae sp. as well as either some limpets or chitons, and you'll really be cooking with gas!

 

[Shawn_epicurious]

Spirorbis- completely harmless. Great filter feeders.

Thank you!

 

[Shawn_epicurious]

I just got a pic of the starfish... I can see 4 of them on my glass right now.

 

[Billdogg]

Yup - common asterina sp. IMHO, nothing to worry about at all.

 

[sharpimage]

harmless, but they multiply ridiculously fast, and then bother coral by sitting on them. remove as many as you can now.

 

[Sleeping Giant]

All good, most of us have them, the do reproduce fast, easy to remove if you want to...I keep them because as stated above, part of the CUC...and I love my CUC lol

 

[Shawn_epicurious]

Thank you everyone... I always get nervous when I see hitchhikers show up : )

 

[Billdogg]

If you do have a population explosion, it is because they have too much food. Much like the bristle worms, they will adjust their numbers to match the available food. Decrease feedings/increase detritus removal via water changes, and their numbers will decrease all on their own.

 

[Phildago]

0i love my asterina.between them and brittles ive considered getting a harlequin shrimp to complete the ecosystem.. but I'm afraid the harlequin would decimate them