New life found! Help identifying?

[multiuser8]

So after what I thought was going to be a complete loss of coral life, seems to be turning into a bunch of new life. I'm a new reefer, and still learning. Here's what I've found today...

 

[JaimeAdams]

So you want to kill the starfish and the baby snail is probably alright and good.

 

[multiuser8]

Is the starfish not something I want in the tank? Also I just found another couple critters in a cup from Tidal gardens. Maybe they came from there...

So you want to kill the starfish and the baby snail is probably alright and good.

 

[multiuser8]

Doing a bit of searching it looks like the star in the cup is a brittle sea star.

Is the starfish not something I want in the tank? Also I just found another couple critters in a cup from Tidal gardens. Maybe they came from there...

 

[Muttley000]

The first star is an asterina. I have a few in my system and they haven't been a problem. Supposedly there are some coral eating varieties, but I don't know how you identify them. I also have those little snails, the only problem is the shells sometimes get where I wish they weren't. I'm thinking about getting a small puffer so I can feed them to him, they reproduce like crazy!

 

[multiuser8]

The first star is an asterina. I have a few in my system and they haven't been a problem. Supposedly there are some coral eating varieties, but I don't know how you identify them. I also have those little snails, the only problem is the shells sometimes get where I wish they weren't. I'm thinking about getting a small puffer so I can feed them to him, they reproduce like crazy!

Would it be okay to put the star in my sump?

 

[Muttley000]

That's what I would do, but like I said I am not able to ID to the level of knowing which are the pests. None of the ones I have had ever gave me a problem, but mine are lighter colored than yours. Sorry I can't be of more help

 

[multiuser8]

That's what I would do, but like I said I am not able to ID to the level of knowing which are the pests. None of the ones I have had ever gave me a problem, but mine are lighter colored than yours. Sorry I can't be of more help

Hey no biggie, glad you could at least help me identify the species. The brittle is okay to put in the tank though right? It's been sitting in that cup for about a week. I'm surprised it's still alive.

 

[Muttley000]

Hey no biggie, glad you could at least help me identify the species. The brittle is okay to put in the tank though right? It's been sitting in that cup for about a week. I'm surprised it's still alive.

The brittle I definitely would put in the tank!

 

[multiuser8]

The brittle I definitely would put in the tank!

Thanks! Thought so. Kinda crazy I got a free brittle with my corals. Lol

 

[BestMomEver]

Is the starfish not something I want in the tank? Also I just found another couple critters in a cup from Tidal gardens. Maybe they came from there...

In my experience, little white starfish are OK. The little grey/brown ones go in the trash. I caught two eating a stylophora.

 

[JaimeAdams]

Ok, so let me elaborate. As @Muttley000 stated in regards to those starfish, they in the past were classified in the genus Asterina. They however were re-calssified awhile back into the genus Aquilonastra of which there are 22 described species and certainly more undescribed. Do they eat coral, yes, yes indeed some of them do. The one that you showed a picture of does indeed eat coral. Soft coral, Zoanthids, mushrooms, leathers. Others eat SPS coral as @BestMomEver has pointed out. Micro brittle stars are fine.

 

[multiuser8]

Ok, so let me elaborate. As @Muttley000 stated in regards to those starfish, they in the past were classified in the genus Asterina. They however were re-calssified awhile back into the genus Aquilonastra of which there are 22 described species and certainly more undescribed. Do they eat coral, yes, yes indeed some of them do. The one that you showed a picture of does indeed eat coral. Soft coral, Zoanthids, mushrooms, leathers. Others eat SPS coral as @BestMomEver has pointed out. Micro brittle stars are fine.

Well I have just that, zoas, a leather, and a mushroom. So bye bye star. Doubtful, but maybe lfs will take him.

 

[norfolkgarden]

Asterina starfish

+1!

Kill it with fire!

They will compete with difficult to keep, beautiful, fromia and linkia stars.

They also have a taste for zoas. Possibly a taste for coraline algae.
There are multiple varieties and they all look alike. Supposedly some are harmless and some are a terror.

6 years ago we intentionally added a few white ones from the LFS and I thought they were really cute.

Have removed over 500 in the past several years and the majority of them are now black (supposedly the bad ones).
In my mind there is no difference. They all need to die.

Begun irradication 2 years ago.
1st month 200
2nd month 100
Rest of year 200.
Since then 100.

They are the gift that keeps on giving.

Yours looks like a Gray/black one. Definitely kill it like you would an aptasia.

 

[multiuser8]

Asterina starfish

+1!

Kill it with fire!

They will compete with difficult to keep, beautiful, fromia and linkia stars.

They also have a taste for zoas. Possibly a taste for coraline algae.
There are multiple varieties and they all look alike. Supposedly some are harmless and some are a terror.

6 years ago we intentionally added a few white ones from the LFS and I thought they were really cute.

Have removed over 500 in the past several years and the majority of them are now black (supposedly the bad ones).
In my mind there is no difference. They all need to die.

Begun irradication 2 years ago.
1st month 200
2nd month 100
Rest of year 200.
Since then 100.

They are the gift that keeps on giving.

Yours looks like a Gray/black one. Definitely kill it like you would an aptasia.

Got it. Getting rid of star. Thanks!