Little thing on the glass

[AlessandroB]

Hi all,
This is my 3rd ID request already, but I am hoping I will eventually learn and contribute... at lest I can tell Apstasia from a copepod now...

I have setup a RedSea Max 170 last month and I guess I brought over this other guy from my corals in the Fluval Evo 13.5. I think I saw other pictures of something similar in other threads, but I can’t really find it now. Any idea of what is it?

 

[Bayareareefer18]

Looks like an asterina star with missing legs

 

[ruskimax]

Asterina, more precisely a half-asterina....

 

[AlessandroB]

Thanks, yup that looks like it. It seems there’s no consensus though (for what I have read) if they are bad or not... your thoughts?

 

[DSC reef]

I'd remove them. Some are good, some are bad and no way to tell them apart. Had the bad ones and once that was realized there were plague proportions to deal with.

 

[El_Guapo13]

Thanks, yup that looks like it. It seems there’s no consensus though (for what I have read) if they are bad or not... your thoughts?

Everything I have read says that some are good, and others are bad, but there is no real way to tell the difference between the good and the bad. Maybe a more experienced member of the #reefsquad can help.

 

[lapin]

They are bad only if you dont like them and they are out of control.
Like some friends.....
They mutliply by dropping legs. Very rare to see one with 6 legs. Most have 4 or 5.

 

[Billldg]

I would remove them as you see them, they multiply rather easily and can overtake a tank.

 

[AlessandroB]

Thank you all. Sounds like the consensus here is “why risk it?”. I agree. Will do the deed.

 

[Retro Reefer]

Agree remove them whenever possible.

 

[dbl]

Agree with others...when I see them and can grab them I remove them, but I don't lose any sleep over them either.

 

[DSC reef]

They are bad only if you dont like them and they are out of control.
Like some friends.....
They mutliply by dropping legs. Very rare to see one with 6 legs. Most have 4 or 5.

I absolutely love starfish and biodiversity, that's why I kept them. When they decimate colonies is when most change their minds.