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Thorn 
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Joined: April 10 2011
Location: Davis County
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 Topic: Hitchhiker Star
Posted: April 29 2012 at 8:33pm |
I was cleaning the tank and saw this starfish on my overflow. It is too big and the legs are too even and well defined to be any asterina I've ever seen. It's about, but not quite, the size of a dime, and I found one other on the overflow also. What is it, and is OK to keep it in?
Edited by Thorn - April 29 2012 at 8:35pm
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40 Gal. Breeder - 20 L refug/sump
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ReefdUp
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Joined: March 20 2011
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Posted: April 29 2012 at 9:08pm |
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There are tons and tons of species of asterina stars. Looks like some species of asterina. I'd leave it, and if you notice it chomping on anything...give it to me to feed to my harlequin shrimp. ;-) A star that small won't do a ton of damage anytime soon.
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www.reefdup.com
Diving since 2009, reefkeeping since 2007, & fishkeeping since 1987
200g, 75g, & 15g Systems
PADI Advanced Open Water
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1stupidpunk
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Posted: April 29 2012 at 9:14pm |
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I had a few of them hitchhike on some LR i got from a guy. I've never seen them eating any of my corals but they do like to munch on my macroalgae. I wouldnt be to worried about them but keep an eye on them for population control as they do seem to reproduce quickly.
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Ann_A
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Joined: August 18 2011
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Posted: April 30 2012 at 2:47pm |
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I really wouldn't worry about it. They tend to be just another organism that lives in our tanks. I've never had a problem with these guys damaging anything in my tank, and their populations never seem to get out of hand. They just scavenge around for detritus and algae in my tank. I think in general they're just another part of our CUC that is often overlooked. Should they become a problem, just pull as many as you want out.
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tfmreefs
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Joined: March 29 2012
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Posted: April 30 2012 at 5:16pm |
I got some in my tank too from some live rock, and the guy I got them from, Akira (kurt) but he was telling me about them and how they quickly reproduce (propogate) when there is an algea bloom, and they turn dark colored and kinda just start dissipearing untill there is more alge then you will see them pop up here and there  They have never harmed any of my corals
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"The early bird might get the worm, but only the second mouse gets the cheese."
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Thorn
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Posted: April 30 2012 at 6:13pm |
Thanks for the comments. I really quite like the stars, so I'm happy to keep them. (They can have all the hair algae they can find.)
Though I must admit there was a part of me where I was hoping someone would tell me they get to be a pest and I'd have enough to justify a harlequin shrimp. I kind of want one of them, but know I couldn't feed one.
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40 Gal. Breeder - 20 L refug/sump
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