What is this?

[Budman's Corals]

Anyone have a clue what this is,,It sorta looks like a think that use to come out and stretch on live rock
thanks
Not the snails..

 

[jedimasterben]

Can you get more pics and describe it a bit more? Like what does it do, how does it move, etc.

 

[Loki]

Looks like a sea serpent starfish. Just from the legs I can see.


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[Budman's Corals]

Can you get more pics and describe it a bit more? Like what does it do, how does it move, etc.

right now its just curled up around a snail

sorta loots like starfish,not sure good or bad

 

[Loki]

Looks like a dead sea serpent. If its dead remove it if it's a live it's up to you. I have one in my tank and it does a good job keeping the rock clean if I were you I'd keep it if it's alive.


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[Budman's Corals]

Looks like a dead sea serpent. If its dead remove it if it's a live it's up to you. I have one in my tank and it does a good job keeping the rock clean if I were you I'd keep it if it's alive.


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Its moving it was just balled around a snail...I noticed months ago legs would come out of holes in the rock and it sorta looks like this thing..

 

[Pappy]

Bristle worm maybe

 

[Loki]

Oh yeah. I thought there was a body. Could be bristle worms as stated above... That's a big ugly one if it is


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[SNAKEMANVET]

Looks like a brittle star.

 

[Dsdaley77]

Looks like a sea serpent starfish. Just from the legs I can see.


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+1 to serpent star. The second pic throws me off though because the legs/appendages look like bristle worms, although maybe its just me but in the second pick as well you/I think I see the 5 sided body structure. Crazy.

 

[Budman's Corals]

+1 to serpent star. The second pic throws me off though because the legs/appendages look like bristle worms, although maybe its just me but in the second pick as well you/I think I see the 5 sided body structure. Crazy.

Yea the 2nd pic he is in a ball but when i peck at him it is 5 legs and center bodyot sure where hes at this morning but i guess he wont hurt nothing

 

[jedimasterben]

If you first noticed the legs sticking out of the rocks, it's a brittle star. Some brittle stars will live their entire lives in one spot in a rock. I've got a rock that is so full of mini-brittles that it would probably scare small children, with all the little alien arms coming out.

 

[Budman's Corals]

If you first noticed the legs sticking out of the rocks, it's a brittle star. Some brittle stars will live their entire lives in one spot in a rock. I've got a rock that is so full of mini-brittles that it would probably scare small children, with all the little alien arms coming out.

Sure enough you hit right with them legs coming outta the rocks,,1st tie in a year ive seen it out,Guess when i cut back feeding fish week ago he must be searching

 

[smoyer]

I think I see a brittle star

 

[Dsdaley77]

Here's a couple cool brittle stars I found online for reference.

 

[Budman's Corals]

Here's a couple cool brittle stars I found online for reference.

That bottom one looks just like it

 

[mcarroll]

It's a freaky one - cool!

While keeping in mind your good experience so far, know that these guys are very able fish predators - ambush style - when they are properly motivated. In a fishless system I've had one eat a porcelain crab that was the same body-size as he was. I didn't see it happen, so if the star wasn't porcelain crab-shaped in the morning, I wouldn't believe it.

-Matt