What is this little 6-pointed starfish?

[Darryn Lyon]

This is definitely new in my tank. We picked up some pipe organ coral and some cactus coral and this guy must have hitched a ride. Is this an asterina? What's the concensus on these? I've been taking some mixed things as to whether they're good or bad. Sorry about the picture, my biocube is on moonlight.

 

[melypr1985]

Asternia Star. I think they are fine. I have seen (once) a brown one on some zoas that weren't doing too well. I fed it to a harlequin shrimp and the zoas started doing better. That's not proof, just an experience. I had thousands of them in a display at work and they never bothered anything in there. The brown one was in a sale tank. My overall oppinion on them is that they are mostly harmless.

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

I've heard a lot of reports that the darker ones like to munch on coral. I'm not sure if they're a different species than the all white ones.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Theyre kinda neat free clean up crew. I do have the ones that are "coral eaters". rust w red w brown w black flecks on white/tan background. they have never eaten my corals. I think I have other easier stuff to eat in my tank..

That said, the populations can get kinda large over time and they do compete w other members of the crew. Im kinda over them now and probably going to cull the herd to encourage my other cuc populations. they also eat coralline. btw.