Is this a brittle starfish?

[JohnNYC8]

I had this hitchhiker on one of my corals so I pulled it out and gently removed it with a turkey baster. Is this a harmless starfish? If so, I have a 26 gallon nano tank, will it eventually grow large enough to cause issues?

 

[JohnNYC8]

Here's one more shot of it extended.

Also, I forgot to mention that I do have a blue neon goby. If it is a brittle star I just read that they can go after them when they get big.

 

[Rp8]

Good hitchhikers but it will get bigger!

 

[JohnNYC8]

Good hitchhikers but it will get bigger!

Thank you! I don't think I have the capacity for when this guy grows.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Here's one more shot of it extended.

Also, I forgot to mention that I do have a blue neon goby. If it is a brittle star I just read that they can go after them when they get big.

This is a MICRO brittle star and will not get very large at all.

 

[JohnNYC8]

This is a MICRO brittle star and will not get very large at all.

Thank you! Do you think he should go back in? If they reproduce quickly I might get overstocked in a hurry. He's really moving around the container I have him in.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Thank you! Do you think he should go back in? If they reproduce quickly I might get overstocked in a hurry. He's really moving around the container I have him in.

I have a C R A P load in my tank but rarely see anything but a few arms sticking out of the rocks when I feed the fish. But, like all the "hitchhiker" inverts in our tanks, the population size will be limited by how much you (over)feed. They are desirable cuc members IMO; I wouldn't worry about them reproducing too quickly (especially if you only have 1, lol)

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Of course you could eventually get this... https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/mini-brittlestar-spawning-event.945975/