Mystery Star with Pic

pooh1989 · 12/09/2006, 07:24 PM

Hi All:

I found this sea star in my tank and sure it's a hitch hiker, but not real sure what kind it is. It's mainly white with some orange on it. I at first thought it was one of those safe ones, but with the orange and the size, about a nickle, I'm not so sure anymore.

Any help??

bertoni · 12/09/2006, 07:43 PM

That looks like an Asterinid star. Most of them graze on algae, but some much on corals. I'd ignore it, personally.

pooh1989 · 12/09/2006, 07:45 PM

Ok, that's what I thought it was but wanted to make sure. Thanks for your help!

(I couldn't remember the name though

)

~~Ange

Alienrich · 12/09/2006, 07:53 PM

They eat SPS corals, and fast.

reefshadow · 12/10/2006, 02:54 AM

Does look like an asterina sp, I have hundreds of them and have never seen one bothering a coral, though there are claims that some types of asterina will eat corals. Mine seem to just slowly cruise around on the rocks and glass.

They do reproduce quickly by fission, I have some with 2,3,4,5,or 6 legs.

None of mine have even a hint of colour.

SuperNerd · 12/10/2006, 02:59 AM

I have those too. All eat algae. A couple even have red tops. How big is your biggest one? Largest I've seen is close to the size of a thumbnail.

IPowderBlueTang · 12/10/2006, 03:28 AM

I had tons them when I first started my tank and they all disappeared as the tank matured!

DgenR8 · 12/10/2006, 04:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Alienrich
They eat SPS corals, and fast.

Um, well.....

There are numerous "Asterina" type stars. Most are completely harmless, but on occasion people report finding them eating polyps and the like.
Personally, I've never seen one with any coloration, and that makes me wonder if you have something "new" there.

mikeandjenn99 · 12/10/2006, 07:53 AM

I have asterina as well, and all they seem to do is work the glass and some lr. They don't bother any of my corals.

I say leave 'em

t5Nitro · 12/10/2006, 08:13 AM

Really small white? I have 1 in my tank that I got as a hitchhiker from this guy near me picking up a coral, his tank is SPS dominated and he eats algae, he has a ton of the stars, not sure if it's the same star fish but it looks like it.

PallidSilversky · 12/10/2006, 09:42 AM

I have a ton of them.
Once I think I counted 30 of them in one area.

They haven't bothered any of my corals.

DgenR8 · 12/10/2006, 11:47 AM

I have a pair of Harlequin shrimp in my tank. Although I feed them CC stars, I believe that they sample the little white ones in between.

CapitalO · 12/10/2006, 11:59 AM

I rescued a dying acanthastrea colony from a LFS and upon giving them a dip, 2 stars very similiar to the one in your picture, came out of the base of the coral. Since then, the coral has stopped receeding and making a recovery. Whether the stars were the cause or not is up for debate, but I discarded the ones I found... Im personally weary of any asteroidia stars.

12/09/2006, 07:24 PM	#1
pooh1989 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Small Town, ND Posts: 199	Mystery Star with Pic Hi All: I found this sea star in my tank and sure it's a hitch hiker, but not real sure what kind it is. It's mainly white with some orange on it. I at first thought it was one of those safe ones, but with the orange and the size, about a nickle, I'm not so sure anymore. Any help??

12/09/2006, 07:43 PM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	That looks like an Asterinid star. Most of them graze on algae, but some much on corals. I'd ignore it, personally. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

12/09/2006, 07:45 PM	#3
pooh1989 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Small Town, ND Posts: 199	Ok, that's what I thought it was but wanted to make sure. Thanks for your help! (I couldn't remember the name though ) ~~Ange __________________ Freedom Isn't Free! Land of the Free, Because of the Brave! Current Tank Info: 46 gallon reef tank with 2 maroon clowns, 2 firefish, lawnmower blenny and a yellow clown goby and 35 gallon hex FOWLR with 3 blue/green chromis and a fuzzy dwarf lion fish

12/10/2006, 02:54 AM	#5
reefshadow Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Central Washington Posts: 1,786	Does look like an asterina sp, I have hundreds of them and have never seen one bothering a coral, though there are claims that some types of asterina will eat corals. Mine seem to just slowly cruise around on the rocks and glass. They do reproduce quickly by fission, I have some with 2,3,4,5,or 6 legs. None of mine have even a hint of colour. __________________ All Your Coral Are Belong To Us Current Tank Info: 30 Deep Blue shallow mixed rimless, MP10, Ecoxotic LED's, SCA 301 skimmer.

12/10/2006, 02:59 AM	#6
SuperNerd Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: SoCal/Left Side- USA Posts: 4,572	I have those too. All eat algae. A couple even have red tops. How big is your biggest one? Largest I've seen is close to the size of a thumbnail. __________________ I said fraggit! Current Tank Info: M-728 Combat Engineer (based on M60 hull). M-3 Lee Medium (British version with squatter).

12/09/2006, 07:53 PM	#4
Alienrich Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Longmont CO Posts: 1	They eat SPS corals, and fast.

12/10/2006, 03:28 AM	#7
IPowderBlueTang Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Kalamazoo, Canada Posts: 769	I had tons them when I first started my tank and they all disappeared as the tank matured!

12/10/2006, 07:53 AM	#9
mikeandjenn99 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 437	I have asterina as well, and all they seem to do is work the glass and some lr. They don't bother any of my corals. I say leave 'em __________________ Why are Tangs so special? Where are the Cleaner Wrasse police?? Current Tank Info: 55g mixed 12g nano

12/10/2006, 08:13 AM	#10
t5Nitro Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 4,384	Really small white? I have 1 in my tank that I got as a hitchhiker from this guy near me picking up a coral, his tank is SPS dominated and he eats algae, he has a ton of the stars, not sure if it's the same star fish but it looks like it. __________________ ATI T5 club Current Tank Info: Left the hobby, looking to re-enter in the future

12/10/2006, 09:42 AM	#11
PallidSilversky Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 139	I have a ton of them. Once I think I counted 30 of them in one area. They haven't bothered any of my corals. __________________ I reject your reality and substitute my own! ><((((º>

12/10/2006, 11:47 AM	#12
DgenR8 I'm an American and I remember Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Long Island, New York Posts: 43,992	I have a pair of Harlequin shrimp in my tank. Although I feed them CC stars, I believe that they sample the little white ones in between. __________________ “I wish there was a way to know that you were IN the good old days, before leaving them.” ~Andy Bernard Regional Manager, Scranton branch Dunder Mifflin Current Tank Info: Unknown slow drip, over 20 years damaged my house and heating system. No more tank.

12/10/2006, 11:59 AM	#13
CapitalO Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Charleston, SC Posts: 312	I rescued a dying acanthastrea colony from a LFS and upon giving them a dip, 2 stars very similiar to the one in your picture, came out of the base of the coral. Since then, the coral has stopped receeding and making a recovery. Whether the stars were the cause or not is up for debate, but I discarded the ones I found... Im personally weary of any asteroidia stars.