Free starfish....should I be happy?

Discussion in 'New To The Hobby' started by cj5_dude, Oct 1, 2012.

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  1. cj5_dude

    cj5_dude Flamingo Tongue

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    Location:
    Durango, CO
    I'm stocked my 12 gallon nano tank with some live rock and sand. While staring at my tank today like I do sometimes I found a small starfish! It's smaller than a penny and kinda cool. Is it a good thing to have or will it cause any problems for me in the future? I'd like to add some soft corals eventually and probably a few fish in the future.
     
    cj5_dude, Oct 1, 2012
    cj5_dude, Oct 1, 2012
    #1

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  2. scadsobees

    scadsobees Fire Shrimp

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    Don't worry, be happy! Just some asterinas - they're mostly harmless algae/bacteria film eaters. They're little but neat - mine always have various leg configurations, my favorite is a little airplane rocket shaped star with a front, two wings, and 2 little booster legs.
     
    scadsobees, Oct 1, 2012
    scadsobees, Oct 1, 2012
    #2
  3. cosmo

    cosmo Giant Squid

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    cosmo, Oct 1, 2012
    cosmo, Oct 1, 2012
    #3
  4. RGS

    RGS Plankton

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    Location:
    Leawood, KS
    It's more than likely an Asterina star fish. They get no bigger than a dime or so. I have dozens, they don't to any damage.
     
    RGS, Oct 1, 2012
    RGS, Oct 1, 2012
    #4
  5. ScorpD

    ScorpD Astrea Snail

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    Jul 18, 2012
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    Location:
    St. Louis Area
    If it has thick legs and looks more like a traditional star, it's an Asterina Star. If it has long thin legs, it's probably a micro Brittle Star. Either way both are beneficial in general.
     
    ScorpD, Oct 1, 2012
    ScorpD, Oct 1, 2012
    #5
  6. cj5_dude

    cj5_dude Flamingo Tongue

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    Location:
    Durango, CO
    I'd agree that it's an Asterina star now after doing some online digging. Thanks guys. I'll let it be and let it keep cleaning away.
     
    cj5_dude, Oct 1, 2012
    cj5_dude, Oct 1, 2012
    #6

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  7. NanaReefer

    NanaReefer Fu Manchu Lion Fish

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    Keep an eye on them though. They multiply quickly and love to munch on the surface of coralline. Leaving lil white spots everywhere!! Lol
     
    NanaReefer, Oct 2, 2012
    NanaReefer, Oct 2, 2012
    #7
  8. Vinnyboombatz

    Vinnyboombatz Giant Squid

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    There are many different kinds of Asterina's not all eat coraline.;)
     
    Vinnyboombatz, Oct 2, 2012
    Vinnyboombatz, Oct 2, 2012
    #8
  9. budsbunny

    budsbunny Bristle Worm

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    as long as it's not one of those 6 legged, quarter inch polyp eating starfish you are ok
     
    budsbunny, Oct 7, 2012
    budsbunny, Oct 7, 2012
    #9
  10. Todd_Sails

    Todd_Sails Giant Squid

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    LOL, I saw the thread title, and thought it might be the local reefer I GAVE- some chaeto, green mushrooms, Kenya trees, and a very small sps frag, AND
    my CC starfish out of my sump. He was about 3.5in. in diameter. I also told him they could grow quite large.
    Now I did tell him he was in my sump (Vinny suggested that) b/c one morning I found him eating most of my GSP when it was small, and that he would eat corals.



    I also have seen very small starfish on my glass sometimes, mine look as though parts of legs are missing, and none have gotten bigger than 0.75cm thus far. I figured that small couldn't hurt anything, right?
     
    Todd_Sails, Oct 7, 2012
    Todd_Sails, Oct 7, 2012
    #10
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