What type of starfish is this

[TheGreatBarrioReef]

Dipped some new coral and about 4 of these guys fell off. Good or bad?
They’re greenish

 

[ScubaFish802]

Asterina starfish. Some people consider them a pest. They can reproduce quickly.

 

[Hincapiej4]

Depends on how you look at it. Some say pests some don't. They can reproduce fast, and CAN eat corals..

 

[Biglew11]

+1 asterina I haven't had any problems with them (yet) but others have.

 

[ScubaFish802]

+1 asterina I haven't had any problems with them (yet) but others have.

My local LFS has a few in their tanks. Enough to notice them but not pandemic level proportions. I occasionally get one as a hitchhiker on snails etc.. I have thought about letting one live, but so far all have ended up in the trash.

 

[JGT]

Dipped some new coral and about 4 of these guys fell off. Good or bad?
They’re greenish

A few are OK and will feed on algae but can grow out of control if not culled. Manual removal or introducing a harlequin shrimp will keep them in check.

 

[TheGreatBarrioReef]

Depends on how you look at it. Some say pests some don't. They can reproduce fast, and CAN eat corals..

So they’re considered more of a neutral hitchhiker? Im worried about that “can” eat part as i also have a bunch and notice them always under my coral plugs

 

[JGT]

So they’re considered more of a neutral hitchhiker? Im worried about that “can” eat part as i also have a bunch and notice them always under my coral plugs

Then you may want to start thinning the herd

 

[Pistondog]

So they’re considered more of a neutral hitchhiker? Im worried about that “can” eat part as i also have a bunch and notice them always under my coral plugs

Had white ones, dozens after a year. Got a harlequin Shrimp, gone in 3 months, now he gets a live* starfish leg every 5 days or so.

Never bothered the coral.

*really, the feet are still kicking.

 

[Jeffcb]

No telling . let it grow. its ok