White starfish in BB nano.

[Gaspipe]

Can anyone tell me what this is and a little about it? My tank is a BB and just want to confirm it's reef safe. This is the first time seeing it.

Thank you in advance

 

[exnisstech]

Rookie here but looks like astrina starfish. Common in most tanks. I take them out of my small BB tank because I don't really care to look at them on the glass. I have probably 100 or more in my larger system. Harmless for me but I have read about certain ones that will eat zoas but I have no experience with that. They have shown up in every tank I have had in the 5 or so years I've been reefing. Maybe someone more knowledgeable can explain how they come to be.

 

[AydenLincoln]

Aquilonastra referred to as asterina starfish in the hobby! They are pests/hitchhikers and multiple quickly I’d remove it.

 

[Gaspipe]

Thank you for the advice all. I never saw one before in my tank. This morning I removed two.

 

[Pineapplereef]

Aquilonastra referred to as asterina starfish in the hobby! They are pests/hitchhikers and multiple quickly I’d remove it.

Aquilonastra is a genus of starfish within the family of Asterinidae (asterina)

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Aquilonastra is a genus of starfish within the family of Asterinidae (asterina)

Technically, Asterina is also a genus in the family Asterinidae.

From what I have read, Asterina and Aquilonastra are separate genuses in the family Asterinidae and the proper term to refer to both would be “Asterinids” or “Asterinid starfish.” Are people just referring to the whole family as “Asterina” somewhere?

 

[AydenLincoln]

Aquilonastra is a genus of starfish within the family of Asterinidae (asterina)

Actually it’s not though.