Little Starfish ? will it survive/ grow?

[lennyd4]

I am starting up a 65 gallon tank, 1 week of the "cycling" process is complete. My LFS gave me corralline algae chips for free, and a very little starfish must have been on board one of them. My question is what kind of starfish is it, and does it even grow. I guess more importantly is , will it even survive?

It looks to be about 1/16" from tip to tip, and the little guy gets around the glass fast! lol

 

[Giancarlo]

More than likely it is either an asterina starfish or those mini brittle stars, both are overall good in my opinion, but others have reported the astera stars irritating some corals. Both will survive no problem and multiply as well. But u should post up a pic because i could be wrong, and it will be much easier to ID.

 

[FishLipz]

Does it have thick legs or real thin ones. Thicker legs, most likely asterina. They are usually grey/greenish. Thin legs, is usually a brittle star. I can say I have both and have no problems. Asterinas can reproduce to epidemic proportions if the conditions are right though. Then you have an excuse to get a harlequin shrimp :wink:

 

[lennyd4]

i would love to upload a pic, but its sooo small that I can't even get my camera/ phone in focus.

 

[lennyd4]

best i can upload :/

 

[bct15]

Asterina, some people claim to have problems from them but I've never had them bother anything...they ride in on frags all the time.

 

[lennyd4]

how big do they usually get?

 

[boehm742]

Id pull it, my tank is all but overrun with them. My corals and everything are fine, i just dont like how they eat all the coralline off my rocks.

 

[lennyd4]

think I should? my tank is going to be a fish only tank.

 

[bct15]

That is about as big as they get, it's up to you if you want to pull it.

 

[bct15]

I'm a let live type of guy personally, it won't hurt anything in a fish only tank (I never had problems with them in my reefs either)...you just might end up with a bunch of them over time.

 

[FishLipz]

The biggest I have is about 1/4 to 1/2 inch. In a fish only setup, don't sweat it.

 

[lennyd4]

Phew! Thanks. It may sound lame but I really didn't want to have to kill the little guy lol