ID for this little Critter?

Just195 · 06/22/2007, 09:45 AM

I could not get a great picture because I was using my cell phone, but hopefully it will at least give somewhat of a visual. I've seen two in my tank and just want to make sure there is no concern.

I'll do my best to describe it... a first glance it looks like a tiny starfish with three of its arms and a flat side as if the other arms were not fully grown. Looking closely at it; however, it has the 3 obvious arm extensions and at the tail end are 3 more "arms" but they do not extend far enough out to form any kind of symmetry with the other 3 arms. You can recognize a front and back as the little guy always leads with the middle of the 3 large arms. It is white on the bottom and the top goes from white on the outside to a dark color in the middle.

I know its not a little brittle star as i have seen them in my macroalgae and nothing on the melevreef ID site is similar. I has such a likeness to a starfish but both of the ones i have seen have this "flattened 3 arm side." Any ideas?

It is in the middle of the picture.. again sorry for the bad quality.

papagimp · 06/22/2007, 09:48 AM

it's an asterina starfish.

Just195 · 06/22/2007, 09:51 AM

got it.. thanks!

Just195 · 06/22/2007, 09:53 AM

So he's fine to leave in there?

papagimp · 06/22/2007, 09:57 AM

Maybe, maybe not. Some asterina's are harmless while others may munch on certain delicate corals and/or coralline algae. I have no idea how to tell the two apart other than waiting and seeing if anything bad is happening. I've got several I've seen pop up here and there in a 2.5g nano, but never had anything bad happening to the tank. No coralline on the glass, but the little bit of rock in there does have coralline all over it. So mine may be a good guy.

drummereef · 06/22/2007, 11:40 AM

Yep, asterina. Some have been known to munch on sps corals.

06/22/2007, 09:45 AM	#1
Just195 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 62	ID for this little Critter? I could not get a great picture because I was using my cell phone, but hopefully it will at least give somewhat of a visual. I've seen two in my tank and just want to make sure there is no concern. I'll do my best to describe it... a first glance it looks like a tiny starfish with three of its arms and a flat side as if the other arms were not fully grown. Looking closely at it; however, it has the 3 obvious arm extensions and at the tail end are 3 more "arms" but they do not extend far enough out to form any kind of symmetry with the other 3 arms. You can recognize a front and back as the little guy always leads with the middle of the 3 large arms. It is white on the bottom and the top goes from white on the outside to a dark color in the middle. I know its not a little brittle star as i have seen them in my macroalgae and nothing on the melevreef ID site is similar. I has such a likeness to a starfish but both of the ones i have seen have this "flattened 3 arm side." Any ideas? It is in the middle of the picture.. again sorry for the bad quality.

06/22/2007, 09:48 AM	#2
papagimp COMAS Rocks! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 8,185 Blog Entries: 2	it's an asterina starfish. __________________ 58g Softie & 75g Stoney Member, Central Oklahoma Marine Aquarium Society Current Tank Info: 58g Mixed Reef Project - Started June 2011

06/22/2007, 09:57 AM	#5
papagimp COMAS Rocks! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 8,185 Blog Entries: 2	Maybe, maybe not. Some asterina's are harmless while others may munch on certain delicate corals and/or coralline algae. I have no idea how to tell the two apart other than waiting and seeing if anything bad is happening. I've got several I've seen pop up here and there in a 2.5g nano, but never had anything bad happening to the tank. No coralline on the glass, but the little bit of rock in there does have coralline all over it. So mine may be a good guy. __________________ 58g Softie & 75g Stoney Member, Central Oklahoma Marine Aquarium Society Current Tank Info: 58g Mixed Reef Project - Started June 2011

06/22/2007, 11:40 AM	#6
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	Yep, asterina. Some have been known to munch on sps corals. __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

06/22/2007, 09:51 AM	#3
Just195 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 62	got it.. thanks!

06/22/2007, 09:53 AM	#4
Just195 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 62	So he's fine to leave in there?