Asterina?

[Joe31415]

Noticed this on a snail that I just picked up today. Keep it or get rid of it? The snail is currently acclimating, so the starfish isn't in the tank yet.

 

[Aboynamedsous2]

That’s an asterina, you should get rid of it especially if you have SPS.

 

[NowGlazeIT]

Asterina star, I’ve had them as part of a cuc but some people have reported them as coral eaters and invasive. It’s my understanding that the white variant is safe and the darker brown-black variant is a coral eater.

 

[Billdogg]

Yes asterina sp. I have had a variety of them in all my systems for more than 30 years and have yet to have one bother anything.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Pluck him and Chuck him
These multiply like mice. Though some get lucky with them eating algae, I myself and others I know have have had them take zoas down. For me, these two ate almost an entire 180 head bam bam zoa colony and reached the size of a nickel or a tad bigger

 

[Staghorn]

Pluck him and Chuck him
These multiply like mice. Though some get lucky with them eating algae, I myself and others I know have have had them take zoas down. For me, these two ate almost an entire 180 head bam bam zoa colony and reached the size of a nickel or a tad bigger

That doesn’t look like an asterina.

 

[NowGlazeIT]

Pluck him and Chuck him
These multiply like mice. Though some get lucky with them eating algae, I myself and others I know have have had them take zoas down. For me, these two ate almost an entire 180 head bam bam zoa colony and reached the size of a nickel or a tad bigger

Lived long enough to grow all 5 arms even. I’ve never seen an asterina that big

 

[NowGlazeIT]

I know they can get 3 inches in the deep blue but man you saw him grow up from a small fry, wild

 

[vetteguy53081]

That doesn’t look like an asterina.

Believe me- Asterina. As I pointed out to someone yesterday, there are over 80 common varieties of asterina in the hobby. Been in hobby 34+ years and seen at least a dozen different types
Here are just some:

 

[NowGlazeIT]

I think the white ones with missing arms are reef safe but can’t confirm

 

[Joe31415]

So, asterina it is. I've read (and seen here) that some people think they're bad, some have never had problems with them.
I'll remove it just to be safe. It looks like it's got a pretty good grip on that shell. Hopefully it pops off easily when I pick at it.

 

[Uncle99]

To me, pest, to others, free CUC.

 

[The_Skrimp]

I have a few in my sump and some of them occasionally make it into my display. I've only ever seen them hang around algae and clean the glass.

 

[watchguy123]

Asterinas are a wonderful diet for a harlequin shrimp. And harlequins must be the coolest shrimp out there

 

[Staghorn]

Believe me- Asterina. As I pointed out to someone yesterday, there are over 80 common varieties of asterina in the hobby. Been in hobby 34+ years and seen at least a dozen different types
Here are just some:

I’m not going to argue with you, I only have about 20 years in! It just doesn’t look consistent with the typical asterina starfish, I’m sure there are many outliers. If I had to pick it out of a lineup I would lean more toward Ganeriidae, but I’m sure theres many different subspecies as well. In either case glad you got it out of there before it wiped out the rest of your zoos.