This just magically appeared on my glass

[ItsAName]

What is it? This is the best in focus I could get after 5 minutes of trying. If not good enough, let me know and I'll try again. Almost looks like a 3 legged star fish. Magically appeared, nothing new in tank for awhile. It's about the size of half a pumpkin seed.

 

[KJ]

Asterina watch them. Some varieties rumored to eat corals.

 

[ItsAName]

Looked up pictures, that's definitely it. I do have coral, should I get rid of it asap while I only see one?

 

[brett_schn]

U have more than 1. They split in half to reproduce so u have atleast 2

 

[Gweeds1980]

+1 for asterina... up to you.. I have loads of them and they do no harm, just part of my cuc... apparently some species do eat corals... anecdotally it's the darker coloured ones which are the danger... but I've no experience of that myself.

 

[ItsAName]

I'm a beginner, less variables the better. I'm removing it

 

[ndrwater]

Really the biggest issues with Asternia sp. is the fact that oftentimes 1 becomes 10 wich becomes 100+.
Yes there are coral eaters, but most often not so. I recommend removing them as you see them just to reduce the possibility of having a Coral eater and keeping their numbers in check.

 

[amazongb]

I have them and they clean my glass.. haven't seen them touch any corals..

 

[terrell wohlrab]

I had 1, watched it become 2, which I learned will become 4, then 8, then 16. Etc. I removed it

 

[RussiReef]

Asterina . Harlequin shrimp eats them

 

[Roy 9121]

I have them in my tank. No big deal, but they can get out of hand. I usually pluck them out if i see them and i have time. But i wouldn't do anything drastic about them

 

[Rufus’ goofs]

It's just another facet of my CUC. They can get everywhere, but don't really bother me.

If they got into my 40B, I'd pluck them, but that tank has minimal rock, and I enjoy seeing my snails in there more.

In my 75, they look awesome. Just another piece of the ocean in there.

 

[George113]

They love to eat zoanthids. They also remove coraline algae. Get rid of them asap. If you see one, you probably have lots more. Easy to find at night with the lights off.

 

[NanaReefer]

Have had them in all my tanks over the years without issue. Rumored that the brown/blue/gray ones will munch on Zoas.

 

[Brogratz]

Asterina for sure, I used to have them but my harlequin shrimp ate all of them.