Little Star Fish, by the hundreds!

About 8 months ago I would see a little star fish on my glass. Every once in while there would be up to 5. They are small never bigger then a ¼ inch. They have 3 to 6 legs, not sure if someone is picking at them (which I have not seen) or if that is how they are growing. They are a light tan color, almost white. I never really paid to much attention to them until their number started to grow. I would estimate there are now a hundred of them. Any idea what they might be and where to find info. They seam to only be on the glass and they love my magnet scraper, I always have to clean it off before cleaning the glass. Even at hundred they don’t seam to be in the way and they are only on glass with allege. I don’t see any in the sand bed or live rock. Is this an epidemic I should start worrying about?

I can not find my cord to my camera to upload the pics to my computer.

 

I'm going to venture a guess that they're asterina stars. There's lots of controversy out there about whether or not they are harmful to corals. I have yet to see them do any damage in my tank and I've had them for years.

 

Pictures and opinions...
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/asterinafaqs.htm

Jim

 

That would be it, they don't seam to have any interest in my coral, just on the glass.

Maybe now i can get a Harlequin Shrimp, to keep the guys in check??

 

Not all harlequins eat them so be prepared to supplement their diet with chocolate chip starfish.