purple starfish hitchiker ID?

wcfost · Apr 26, 2013

Hi, this morning I noticed a small (1/4" diameter) purple starfish slowly working its way across the rockwork. I'm relatively new to the hobby and am not familiar with starfish. Is it possible to ID the species? Is it something I can safely leave in the aquarium? Photo attached. Thanks!

Mr. E Wrasse · Apr 26, 2013

I cant tell for sure but it looks pretty similar to one I had in my tank. Started out as the size of a pea and when it got quarter size I noticed one day it was sitting on my ultimate stag acro.I pulled Iit off after a day and it had eaten the whole base which killed the acro

I was pretty upset considering I should have just gotten rid of it earlier but didnt know it was bad. if I were you id catch it and bring it to your LFS and if they cannot ifentify it then get rid of it

bct15 · Apr 26, 2013

Is it some sort of asterina? Never seen a purple one...With that color is guess it eats coralline algae but I honestly have no idea, that is just a guess.

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Connie · Apr 26, 2013

+1 They get to be the size of a quarter and when they get large they sometimes eat SPS. Mine are blue though. I've had a couple that I caught eating my SPS. I threw them in the sump. IMO if it is any color other than white, get them out.

Mr. E Wrasse said:
I cant tell for sure but it looks pretty similar to one I had in my tank. Started out as the size of a pea and when it got quarter size I noticed one day it was sitting on my ultimate stag acro.I pulled Iit off after a day and it had eaten the whole base which killed the acro I was pretty upset considering I should have just gotten rid of it earlier but didnt know it was bad. if I were you id catch it and bring it to your LFS and if they cannot ifentify it then get rid of it

Mr. E Wrasse · Apr 26, 2013

Connie said:
+1 They get to be the size of a quarter and when they get large they sometimes eat SPS. Mine are blue though. I've had a couple that I caught eating my SPS. I threw them in the sump. IMO if it is any color other than white, get them out.

Lol the funny thing was the one I had in my tank was white :'(