Hitchhiker Starfish

[T-J]

Not sure where this guy came from but saw it today for the first time. Put a chocolate chip starfish in last week but I don’t think they’re related. Any idea on an ID?

 

[T-J]

Doing some research it looks like an Asterina. Seems to be mixed in leaving it vs taking it out.
WWYD?

 

[Tahoe61]

I would remove.

 

[Mrs. Herbert]

I take them out of the tank when I see them.

 

[Double monti 61]

I would leave it I believe if they do not do harm to your corals or other invertebrates they may be considered a part of your clean up crew.

 

[AcroNem]

They were formerly Asterina spp., now known as Aquilonastra spp. If I'm remembering correctly there are 28 species, only a few of which eat corals or other invertebrates and we rarely see them in the hobby. They're almost always benign other than their fast rate of reproduction.