Starfish found in a curing tank

TNTFISHY · 02/13/2010, 01:36 AM

Sorry for the vague description, because I haven't gotten a really good look at this guy. I'm curing my tank, and have some live rock, hermits, nasarrius snails in there so far. A small(1 to 1 1/2 inch) starfish is hiding out in some live rock. I dropped some flakes in, and his tentacles reached out and grabbed some. It's got long thin arms(width of a needle) with a brownish band of stripes. From what I can see he's got a disk shaped body like those sand sifting types.
Should I catch him and kill em? Will he eat corals when I start adding them? How bad could he be?

Hephalump · 02/13/2010, 01:39 AM

sounds like a mini bristle star from the description. They are very beneficial. It is quite likely that you have several hundred in your tank already. If you don't then you soon will. I love watching them crawl around on the glass at night.

TNTFISHY · 02/13/2010, 01:52 AM

Totally reef safe? Hate to admit I crushed one.

Rockhead21564 · 02/13/2010, 06:43 AM

I've got 1000's in my tanks, reef beneficial. They scavenge the excess's and I've got some fish that will eat them if their floating in the current.

02/13/2010, 01:36 AM	#1
TNTFISHY Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 250	Starfish found in a curing tank Sorry for the vague description, because I haven't gotten a really good look at this guy. I'm curing my tank, and have some live rock, hermits, nasarrius snails in there so far. A small(1 to 1 1/2 inch) starfish is hiding out in some live rock. I dropped some flakes in, and his tentacles reached out and grabbed some. It's got long thin arms(width of a needle) with a brownish band of stripes. From what I can see he's got a disk shaped body like those sand sifting types. Should I catch him and kill em? Will he eat corals when I start adding them? How bad could he be?

02/13/2010, 01:39 AM	#2
Hephalump Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 244	sounds like a mini bristle star from the description. They are very beneficial. It is quite likely that you have several hundred in your tank already. If you don't then you soon will. I love watching them crawl around on the glass at night. __________________ You can change your socks, but if you don't wash your feet they will still stink. Current Tank Info: 65 gal bowfront mixed reef, Maxspect Razor 160w, Reef Octopus NW150, Aquamaxx Nano calcium reactor, vortech mp40, pair of ocellaris clowns, starry blenny.

02/13/2010, 06:43 AM	#4
Rockhead21564 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Up North Vanderbilt, Michigan Posts: 525	I've got 1000's in my tanks, reef beneficial. They scavenge the excess's and I've got some fish that will eat them if their floating in the current. __________________ Sometimes I just don't get IT ! I want IT, but she won't let me buy anything else. Well, that she knows about anyway, Bah hahahaha Current Tank Info: 280g reef w/90g refug/reef & 90g sump;210g FOWLR W/20"Pnthr Grper,10"niger,36"zebra & 24" Tiger eels. 55g clam tank w/ 9,"8",6",5"& 4" Corceas, 9" Blue &12"orange squamosas

02/13/2010, 01:52 AM	#3
TNTFISHY Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 250	Totally reef safe? Hate to admit I crushed one.