Star shaped orange dots

Rohirrimus

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
May 10, 2022
Messages
158
Reaction score
54
Location
Malta
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Hello guys,
I noticed some small orange dots on my rock. It’s extremely small ( portion of a breadcrum) and it moves, I notice it on different spots every night ( I only see it in the evening due to my light cycle, as you can really only notice it under a fully blue light due to fluorescence).

these are the best pictures I could take:

1137483F-3F7E-4B45-A18A-3088BCAB7548.jpeg
88A09FB0-BF26-4A57-B59B-0CD229224411.jpeg
72A81009-7416-421D-BE7C-4BDA0BFCA195.jpeg
75F6153A-33D4-4D79-BD82-0389E75B325C.png


you can see how small it is compared to my sand. I’ve been looking around but I didn’t see any starfish that is so small, but the shake is most definitely star-shaped.

curious to see if someone can ID these creatures.
Thanks
 
OP
OP
R

Rohirrimus

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
May 10, 2022
Messages
158
Reaction score
54
Location
Malta
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Asterina starfish, they are harmless little hitchhikers. but they will multiply.
That was my first thought too but I don’t think so.
it looks too bright orange (hard to pickup with camera) and it’s a extremely small.

today I managed to take a look at another one, it looked more like a blob than a star.
 
OP
OP
R

Rohirrimus

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
May 10, 2022
Messages
158
Reaction score
54
Location
Malta
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Actually, After observing it a bit more it doesn't move, it's just me who noticed different spots and thought it moves.

I found this subject https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/orange-coralline-algae.356512/page-2 about orange coraline. It seems to be the closest thing. Very strange because I didn't see anything like it in any of the shops I purchased fish/ corals from. It could be that it came from hermit crabs that I got from the beach, perhaps it was on their shells. Quite interesting and unique.
 

EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal

Just another girl who likes fish
View Badges
Joined
May 14, 2019
Messages
13,539
Reaction score
20,094
Location
Spring, Texas
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Actually, After observing it a bit more it doesn't move, it's just me who noticed different spots and thought it moves.

I found this subject https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/orange-coralline-algae.356512/page-2 about orange coraline. It seems to be the closest thing. Very strange because I didn't see anything like it in any of the shops I purchased fish/ corals from. It could be that it came from hermit crabs that I got from the beach, perhaps it was on their shells. Quite interesting and unique.
Glad it's not a pest.
 

Making aqua concoctions: Have you ever tried the Reef Moonshiner Method?

  • I currently use the moonshiner method.

    Votes: 42 20.8%
  • I don’t currently use the moonshiner method, but I have in the past.

    Votes: 3 1.5%
  • I have not used the moonshiner method.

    Votes: 148 73.3%
  • Other.

    Votes: 9 4.5%
Back
Top