critter id?

tattoooedlex · 05/16/2013, 06:17 PM

for quite a while now I have noticed what appears to be white hairs occasionally coming out of my live rock. my LFS said I probably have some small starfish living in my rock. this lil guy popped out of my rock then quickly disappeared back into another opening. he was out for maybe ten seconds but I snapped of a quick pic. looks like a starfish but I still consider myself new to this after 1 year and I still get worried about the unknown.would appreciate any help id'ing it. Is it a good thing to have or bad?Like I say this is the first time I have seen one come out

tattoooedlex · 05/16/2013, 06:21 PM

Amphiuridae maybe?

bnumair · 05/16/2013, 06:22 PM

looks like a Amphiuridae or brittle star but i have never seen one this white. maybe someone else can chime in.

tattoooedlex · 05/16/2013, 06:25 PM

I know its a bad pick but it appeared to be black and white stripped

tattoooedlex · 05/16/2013, 06:45 PM

also it( now that I watch the video the snapp shot was taken from there are actually 3) come out directly after I fed the fish in the tank

SushiGirl · 05/16/2013, 09:13 PM

Black & white striped would be your typical mini brittle star. I do have white ones, but they're a tad bit different than the black & white striped ones.

OceanAir · 05/17/2013, 07:04 AM

Definitely brittle stars, nothing to be worried about they're just cool IMO

Damon.Webb22 · 05/17/2013, 08:24 AM

You can see black and white striping on the leg that is to the left curled under the shadow of the rock. Brittle Star FTW!

faithenfire · 05/17/2013, 10:29 AM

looks like my old brittle. Loved him
good find

postshawn · 05/17/2013, 11:26 AM

They will live in the rock. Sometimes you wont see it for weeks or months and sometimes you'll see it's arms sticking out of a rock somewhere. They are beneficial critters and a great find.

tattoooedlex · 05/17/2013, 04:05 PM

Awsome guys and gals thank you,so far I've counted may 5 or 6 of them although they may just be the same legs hanging out in different positions, but there are definately 3

hogfanreefer · 05/17/2013, 04:34 PM

I'm jealous. Brittle stars are about the only thing I haven't found in my LR.

05/16/2013, 06:22 PM	#3
bnumair Dr. Reef at ur service Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tulsa, Ok, USA Posts: 7,751 Blog Entries: 15	looks like a Amphiuridae or brittle star but i have never seen one this white. maybe someone else can chime in. __________________ Water Quality: NO3 0,Phos 0,Cal 440,Alk 7.5,Mag 1300 "Reef Fast, You Crash, Reef Slow, You Pass" Mike's Reef 3:16 Current Tank Info: 350g DT,95g sump, 50g Frag tank, 4800gph return 4x Sea swirls. 6x AI Vega Color. 200# Pukani rock, dual recirculating skimmer, Biopellet, GFO Carbon rx's, Cal rx. Closed loop. 1.5hp chiller, genesis renew. Apex & RKE

05/16/2013, 09:13 PM	#6
SushiGirl Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Fort Worth, TX USA Posts: 8,267	Black & white striped would be your typical mini brittle star. I do have white ones, but they're a tad bit different than the black & white striped ones. __________________ Visit my Homepage or "My Albums" (via Profile) for hitchhiker pics. Current Tank Info: 55g softy/LPS tank & 20L reef tank

05/17/2013, 10:29 AM	#9
faithenfire it's all IMO Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 430	looks like my old brittle. Loved him good find __________________ Looking for a 26 gallon bit of a underwater paradise. Current Tank Info: I am a caretaker of a 7ish year old 26 gal bowfront tank. I have watchman goby, a gold stripe neon goby, a rainford goby, pajama cardinal, possum wrasse and a clean up crew including a wall/rock climbing serpent star

05/17/2013, 04:34 PM	#12
hogfanreefer Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Conway, AR Posts: 2,117	I'm jealous. Brittle stars are about the only thing I haven't found in my LR. __________________ DSA 155,Custom Trigger 42" sump/refugium, MP40 X2, MP 10 X 2, AI Hydra 52 X3, Apex controller, Tunze ATO Current Tank Info: DSA 155 gallon, mixed reef, SPS and wrasse dominant

05/16/2013, 06:21 PM	#2
tattoooedlex Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: East Islip New York Posts: 181	Amphiuridae maybe?

05/16/2013, 06:25 PM	#4
tattoooedlex Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: East Islip New York Posts: 181	I know its a bad pick but it appeared to be black and white stripped

05/16/2013, 06:45 PM	#5
tattoooedlex Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: East Islip New York Posts: 181	also it( now that I watch the video the snapp shot was taken from there are actually 3) come out directly after I fed the fish in the tank

05/17/2013, 07:04 AM	#7
OceanAir Moved On Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Southern California Posts: 25	Definitely brittle stars, nothing to be worried about they're just cool IMO

05/17/2013, 08:24 AM	#8
Damon.Webb22 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Lake St. Louis Posts: 1,163	You can see black and white striping on the leg that is to the left curled under the shadow of the rock. Brittle Star FTW!

05/17/2013, 11:26 AM	#10
postshawn Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Los Angeles (SF Valley), CA Posts: 180	They will live in the rock. Sometimes you wont see it for weeks or months and sometimes you'll see it's arms sticking out of a rock somewhere. They are beneficial critters and a great find.

05/17/2013, 04:05 PM	#11
tattoooedlex Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: East Islip New York Posts: 181	Awsome guys and gals thank you,so far I've counted may 5 or 6 of them although they may just be the same legs hanging out in different positions, but there are definately 3