Smiley curly eyed/legged critter...starfish??

[ReefKeeperNick]

Hey guys n gals,

Noticed this little critter on the glass just now. Fascinating little micro Asterina starfish I'm guessing!?

Community help please =)

 

[vetteguy53081]

Asterisms star. The eye looking things may be spirobid worms
Discard them all

 

[WheatToast]

Asterisms star. The eye looking things may be spirobid worms
Discard them all

What’s wrong with the Spirobid worms? They never bothered anyone in my tank.

 

[afrokobe]

Your starfish looks like it has googly eyes lol

 

[ReefKeeperNick]

Asterisms star. The eye looking things may be spirobid worms
Discard them all

Thanks for the reply...Spirobid worms being parasitic?

 

[WheatToast]

Thanks for the reply...Spirobid worms being parasitic?

They are harmless filter feeders that attach to hard surfaces. It appears that the starfish crawled over two, attached to your glass.
I am confused as well about why @vetteguy53081 is telling you to remove them. Maybe because the starfish has eaten them?

 

[ReefKeeperNick]

M

What’s wrong with the Spirobid worms? They never bothered anyone in my tank.

They are harmless filter feeders that attach to hard surfaces. It appears that the starfish crawled over two, attached to your glass.
I am confused as well about why @vetteguy53081 is telling you to remove them. Maybe because the starfish has eaten them?

I'm not sure either but hopefully they will let us know =)

I quite like my googley eyed Asterina...

 

[Rick's Reviews]

I would of voted for this guy if entered into photo competition ..

 

[aws2266]

I have a few of the stars. They were the first live things in my tank. We've grown fond of them. Now the bristle worm I'm not so fond of but he ain't hurting anything and unless I go looking for him I never see him

 

[Rick's Reviews]

I have a few of the stars. They were the first live things in my tank. We've grown fond of them. Now the bristle worm I'm not so fond of but he ain't hurting anything and unless I go looking for him I never see him

I'm unsure what you mean as you contradict what you say, if your happy that's all... great picture (thumbs up)

 

[Just John]

The only potential problem is that these starfish can reproduce like crazy in some tanks.

 

[WheatToast]

The only potential problem is that these starfish can reproduce like crazy in some tanks.

I also believe some will trample corals and Coralline algae.

 

[vetteguy53081]

They are harmless filter feeders that attach to hard surfaces. It appears that the starfish crawled over two, attached to your glass.
I am confused as well about why @vetteguy53081 is telling you to remove them. Maybe because the starfish has eaten them?

Why ?
They take down zoas. Here are two alone that took down an entire colony of Bam Bam zoas and notice they are slightly larger than a nickel. Harmless ??
I know Dozens of people that have suffered consequences from them not to mention in large numbers, they clog imtakes, and impellers

 

[vetteguy53081]

Thanks for the reply...Spirobid worms being parasitic?

Youre thinking Spinoid

 

[LiveFreeAndReef]

Why ?
They take down zoas. Here are two alone that took down an entire colony of Bam Bam zoas and notice they are slightly larger than a nickel. Harmless ??
I know Dozens of people that have suffered consequences from them not to mention in large numbers, they clog imtakes, and impellers

These don't look like the usual asterina stars

 

[vetteguy53081]

These don't look like the usual asterina stars

Many varieties out there. Been in hobby 3 1/2 decades and seen all sorts. The general color of the Asterins Starfish depends on the species, it can be white, red, yellow, and grey.

 

[SHNICI]

Many varieties out there. Been in hobby 3 1/2 decades and seen all sorts. The general color of the Asterins Starfish depends on the species, it can be white, red, yellow, and grey.

I have seen pure white to eradicate Zoas, I keep planty of the rest in my system, but @vetteguy53081 is right, they can multiply quickly and so can clog the impellers sometimes.
With the rest (colour variations), personally never got issue yet.

 

[Just John]

Fear the Asterina.

 

[dvgyfresh]

My asterinas makes sure there is no algae left behind especially coraline , they turn pink / purple from eating it so much

coraline is taking off in my fuge tho, I guess they haven’t got there yet lol

 

[ReefKeeperNick]

Thanks for all your advise people!

Soo it would seem that I now have Bristleworms, Brittle Starfish AND Asterinas in my tank (and all from one piece of live rock with I purchased from another healthy tank with a small Kenya Tree attached)! Never thought I'd be bringing home this much life =)

Not to mention my 2 Hermits. Seems like my CUC is well and truly sorted.

As for being concerned about the Asterinas taking over or consuming Zoas...I have Rhodactis', Toadstool Leather and 2 Kenya Trees so hopefully I'll be okay here.

Here's a pic of my brittle star feeding earlier for your entertainment =)