Help Identify What This Is

[Quarfy]

Need help identifying what this is. I’ve checked all the worms and can’t find anything that looks like this. I also have recently added a bunch of coral, all were dipped 15-20 minutes. Want to make sure this isn’t something harmful. I can get it now while it’s on the glass.

 

[Peace River]

Asterina starfish

 

[ying yang]

+1 on 3 legged asterina star fish .
They propagate by dropping legs and a new starfish forms.
I've never had them but some say they are beneficial.
Some say white ones are OK but any other colouration can eat corals.
So would do your research on them and decide what camp you going be in whether it's you love them or hate them lol .

 

[ectoaesthetics]

I have never seen any cause harm locally… there are several types that look very similar so a lot depends on the reefing region you reside/trade in. But people seem to loathe them on here as they have come into contact with species of these that can munch on coral. It has been pretty much unheard of in my area. My advice is to simply figure out where he hitchhiked from and see if that tank has “issues” with them or if they simply preform cleanup crew duties in their tank.

 

[Billdogg]

I've been keeping marine aquaria since 1987. I have yet to have a asterina sp. star harm anything other than film algae or detritus. I spread them out between tanks if one system starts to run low.

 

[MaxTremors]

I've been keeping marine aquaria since 1987. I have yet to have a asterina sp. star harm anything other than film algae or detritus. I spread them out between tanks if one system starts to run low.

Same (except 1998), and I’m not convinced there are any species that eat coral. I know a lot of people have experienced what they presume to be asterinas (Aquilonastra is the actual genus) eating corals, but I’ve never seen definitive proof, and I’ve had 4-5 different species. I’m not saying it’s not possible, or that the people who claim to have experienced it are incorrect or making things up, but I have never experienced it and I’ve never seen actual proof of it. IME they are harmless if beneficial and only get out of control if you’re over feeding the tank.

 

[chandavi]

I have many. Once one was directly on a zoa. I observed it to determine if it was going to harm it. About a week later it had moved on with no damage to the zoa.

 

[Billdogg]

I have many. Once one was directly on a zoa. I observed it to determine if it was going to harm it. About a week later it had moved on with no damage to the zoa.

That has been my experience as well. They might irritate something briefly, but will then move on leaving the coral just as it was.

 

[Quarfy]

Thank you all for the replies and identification. Seems mixed opinions (like a lot of reefing strategies). Guess I’ll keep an eye on it and address as needed!