Sea Star

ANC · 12/01/2009, 12:22 AM

So I was looking into my 3gal desk top tank today which has nothing but LR and LS in it, and I see the smallest sea star I have ever seen in my life hanging out on the glass of the tank. I really can't describe the size other than it looks to be about the size of piece of crushed coral, the kind used as substrate. My question is what can I do to ensure survival, if anything and am I better off leaving the little star in the 3 gal tank for a while to see if he grows or take him to the larger 20gal tank that actually has a stock and plenty of detritus to munch on?

Funny thing about this is I was actually planning on buying a star later this week but hey maybe I can buy something else now.

MandM · 12/01/2009, 12:36 AM

If you have live rock in there he is probably just fine right there. Does it have long skinny legs (tiny brittle star) or fat like a regular beach type star (asterina)?

Brittle stars will eat detritus or leftover food. Asterina stars usually munch on algae although they will scrape the rock hard enough to remove coralline. I've heard some reefers say some will munch on zoanthids but I've never seen that in my tanks.

ANC · 12/01/2009, 12:39 AM

Well as of right now it looks to have the fat legs like the normal beach star, but this is the first time I have seen it and it is seriously as big as this....B....that right the upper case of any letter is probably a bit larger than it. Hopefully he will stay out in the open so I can watch for growth.

MandM · 12/01/2009, 12:59 AM

Cool. They don't get large, 1/4 inch or so. They break off legs to reproduce. He's probably a little "frag".

joeychitwood · 12/01/2009, 02:32 AM

Have you looked in the tank at night? You might find many more small starfish, as they tend to come out in the open primarily in the dark

HUNGER · 12/01/2009, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeychitwood

Have you looked in the tank at night? You might find many more small starfish, as they tend to come out in the open primarily in the dark

they love comeing out at night mite see more thing you didnt know you had

SkarfPa · 12/01/2009, 08:46 AM

sounds like an asterina if it is he will survive and you will see more

IDSkoT · 12/01/2009, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HUNGER

they love comeing out at night mite see more thing you didnt know you had

It's actually really cool the amount of creatures that just come out at night. nassarius snails, some crabs, star fish. It's an awesome sight if you have little moon lights. You just see little shadows of tiny creatures scurrying around.

joeychitwood · 12/01/2009, 12:09 PM

My kids called them "Lucky Charms Starfish."

12/01/2009, 12:22 AM	#1
ANC Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Wintersville, OH Posts: 183	Sea Star So I was looking into my 3gal desk top tank today which has nothing but LR and LS in it, and I see the smallest sea star I have ever seen in my life hanging out on the glass of the tank. I really can't describe the size other than it looks to be about the size of piece of crushed coral, the kind used as substrate. My question is what can I do to ensure survival, if anything and am I better off leaving the little star in the 3 gal tank for a while to see if he grows or take him to the larger 20gal tank that actually has a stock and plenty of detritus to munch on? Funny thing about this is I was actually planning on buying a star later this week but hey maybe I can buy something else now.

12/01/2009, 12:36 AM	#2
MandM sick yet brilliant Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Sacramento Posts: 1,497	If you have live rock in there he is probably just fine right there. Does it have long skinny legs (tiny brittle star) or fat like a regular beach type star (asterina)? Brittle stars will eat detritus or leftover food. Asterina stars usually munch on algae although they will scrape the rock hard enough to remove coralline. I've heard some reefers say some will munch on zoanthids but I've never seen that in my tanks. __________________ Sheila I was emo when emo wasn't cool If your not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate. Current Tank Info: 120g, 8g

12/01/2009, 12:59 AM	#4
MandM sick yet brilliant Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Sacramento Posts: 1,497	Cool. They don't get large, 1/4 inch or so. They break off legs to reproduce. He's probably a little "frag". __________________ Sheila I was emo when emo wasn't cool If your not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate. Current Tank Info: 120g, 8g

12/01/2009, 12:39 AM	#3
ANC Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Wintersville, OH Posts: 183	Well as of right now it looks to have the fat legs like the normal beach star, but this is the first time I have seen it and it is seriously as big as this....B....that right the upper case of any letter is probably a bit larger than it. Hopefully he will stay out in the open so I can watch for growth.

12/01/2009, 02:32 AM	#5
joeychitwood Schrödinger's Mod Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 3,488	Have you looked in the tank at night? You might find many more small starfish, as they tend to come out in the open primarily in the dark

12/01/2009, 08:46 AM	#7
SkarfPa Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: McAdoo,Pa Posts: 62	sounds like an asterina if it is he will survive and you will see more

12/01/2009, 12:09 PM	#9
joeychitwood Schrödinger's Mod Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 3,488	My kids called them "Lucky Charms Starfish."