Little Starfish (not asterina)

[kaylajoy]

This little guy came in on some snails from Florida. It's very small but doesn't look like any asterina I've seen before.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

Looks like a little Fromia to me!

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

Looks like a little Fromia to me!

That's awesome! Keep him!

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

Sorry, I take that back...he looks more like a Comet Star...forgot you're in Florida. Fromias are native to the Indian Ocean

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Yeah, my guess would be Echinaster sp. - possibly E. sentus or E. spinulosus, but I don't know for sure. Cool find either way!

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

Btw, if it is an Echinaster species don't listen to the people on here who will say it's doomed because of its food source. That's constantly preached about starfish... Just enjoy your cool find.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

Btw, I'm really into starfish biology wise so if you have any questions or anything like that just lmk and I'll try to help out if I can...they look simple but they're actually really complex creatures!

 

[kaylajoy]

Sorry, I take that back...he looks more like a Comet Star...forgot you're in Florida. Fromias are native to the Indian Ocean

Just a guess because the business is located in Florida, and the snails are native I think.

Is there a chance it will survive and grow in my 10 gallon tank? Or not likely?

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

Just a guess because the business is located in Florida, and the snails are native I think.

Is there a chance it will survive and grow in my 10 gallon tank? Or not likely?

I say yes, hell do fine for many months at least. People say they commonly starve but I believe that has more to do with infection and disease than starvation...Some stars are very fragile though and you have to be careful when acclimating them. Try to not take them out if the water either... Also some species are very sensitive to parameter and other environmental changes so try to keep everything stable....
If you send me a few good pics I might be able to identify the species and diet...

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

This is my Fromia indica (considered a fragile species) he's eating in the first picture.

 

[AydenLincoln]

OMG!!! He’s so cute!! Is he still alive? Come back I need an update!!!