Starfish ID

spw4949 · 08/29/2008, 08:06 PM

I brought home some starfish on some recently purchased live rock & was hoping for some help with an ID, unfortunately I have no pics! So I noticed 1 maybe 3 weeks ago & 3 weeks later I can see 6. They are all VERY small with the largest being maybe 1cm. They are all beige in color with dark brown flecked throughout with a spot of reddish orange at the base of each leg. I realize they are juvenile & going by description only is tough but I'm trying to figure out what they are to make sure they won't become a nuiscance. The tank is only 6 weeks old & I plan on adding corals so would like to find out what I'm dealing with. Hopefully I'll be able to get pics soon. Any feedback would be appreciated.

Thanks

Salamander · 08/29/2008, 08:47 PM

Look up asterina stars. They stay pretty small.

Most are pretty much harmless detrivours and may occasionally munch on a bit of coralline algae. Some less common species have been seen munching on sps. Usually a good addition to a diverse CUC.

spw4949 · 08/29/2008, 08:57 PM

Thanks I will.

spw4949 · 08/29/2008, 09:02 PM

Looks like your right,good call.

Thanks again.

08/29/2008, 08:06 PM	#1
spw4949 Registered Member. Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Albany, N.Y. Posts: 1,594	Starfish ID I brought home some starfish on some recently purchased live rock & was hoping for some help with an ID, unfortunately I have no pics! So I noticed 1 maybe 3 weeks ago & 3 weeks later I can see 6. They are all VERY small with the largest being maybe 1cm. They are all beige in color with dark brown flecked throughout with a spot of reddish orange at the base of each leg. I realize they are juvenile & going by description only is tough but I'm trying to figure out what they are to make sure they won't become a nuiscance. The tank is only 6 weeks old & I plan on adding corals so would like to find out what I'm dealing with. Hopefully I'll be able to get pics soon. Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks __________________ Steve Current Tank Info: 46 gal bowfront, mixed reef, 2x250W current outer orbit w/4x39W T5 ,10 gal fuge....38 gallon aggressive FOWLR, 10 gallon sump.

08/29/2008, 08:47 PM	#2
Salamander Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Flagstaff, Arizona Posts: 2,103	Look up asterina stars. They stay pretty small. Most are pretty much harmless detrivours and may occasionally munch on a bit of coralline algae. Some less common species have been seen munching on sps. Usually a good addition to a diverse CUC. __________________ I feel more like myself now than I did before. Current Tank Info: 120g mixed reef, 2 x 250W DE MH, 2 x 54w T5, MSX 200 SKimmer, 2 Koralia 4's, 40g fuge/sump, QT

08/29/2008, 08:57 PM	#3
spw4949 Registered Member. Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Albany, N.Y. Posts: 1,594	Thanks I will. __________________ Steve Current Tank Info: 46 gal bowfront, mixed reef, 2x250W current outer orbit w/4x39W T5 ,10 gal fuge....38 gallon aggressive FOWLR, 10 gallon sump.

08/29/2008, 09:02 PM	#4
spw4949 Registered Member. Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Albany, N.Y. Posts: 1,594	Looks like your right,good call. Thanks again. __________________ Steve Current Tank Info: 46 gal bowfront, mixed reef, 2x250W current outer orbit w/4x39W T5 ,10 gal fuge....38 gallon aggressive FOWLR, 10 gallon sump.