what is this thing?

[meagheavz]

I found it last night, and then i saw it again today i have no clue wut it is, kinda looks like a small starfish, :flirt:

 

[Killerdrgn]

asterina star? how big is it?

 

[meagheavz]

smaller then a penny

 

[DontXtripNfall]

It's an asterina star.

 

[meagheavz]

my luck its prob bad

 

[Killerdrgn]

no they are detrivores. Good starfish.

 

[meagheavz]

nice, i guess it was stuck to a coral i just got the other day. do they get very large

 

[Killerdrgn]

nope thats about as large as they get, if you don't want it you could always get a (forget what the name was) shrimp that eats starfish.

 

[meagheavz]

aslong as its not bad and wont hurt my corals or fish, then there should be anything wrong with it. he seems happy

 

[DevIouS]

Contrary to what most say....
some can be bad.
I witness this & every one I see in my tank.....I take out:

- Info on predatory starfish -

 

[noodleman]

i witness some take out my new clam

 

[Killerdrgn]

There are some that do some that don't, and it's harlequin shrimp.

 

[DevIouS]

There are some that do some that don't,

That's not what you said in your previous post & a warning should have been given to the poster if you already knew.



Excerpt from the link I provided:

"Several people have argued that these starfish are harmless, but we have yet to find any that will not eat coral polyps."

 

[Bob 1000]

Contrary to what most say....
some can be bad.
I witness this & every one I see in my tank.....I take out:

- Info on predatory starfish -

Thanks I just realized that I don't have rtn.. I have these in my sump all over and I threw one in my main tank last week when changing a filter sock and this week I noticed A colony whiting out... So fragged the whole thing and that's what's on top of what used to be my colony...
Just looked at the colony and saw the star... Looked closer at the colony and saw what looked like circle bite marks....

Damn stars... I thought they resembled the crown of thorns..

 

[meagheavz]

so then i should get rid of it

 

[DevIouS]

I supplied info as well as others...
You have to make that decision.

 

[meagheavz]

i took it out its in a cup right now with saltwater, someone told me that it only eats dead things

 

[gcfd191]

Get a Harlequin shrimp. They LOVE them!!

 

[inkblue]

pLease dont get a harLequin unLess you know how to feed and keep them... :happysad:

 

[Killerdrgn]

That's not what you said in your previous post & a warning should have been given to the poster if you already knew.



Excerpt from the link I provided:

"Several people have argued that these starfish are harmless, but we have yet to find any that will not eat coral polyps."

Yeah I was trying to find out which were the ones that were bad first. I've heard that if it has 5 legs then its good and if it has 6 then its a predatory starfish, etc. etc. There is alot of conflicting information on these guys. Such as kind of stated above it only eats the dead portions of corals, it'll only eat things that may be on it's way out already and may just facilitate the dying.