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- - Hitchhiker starfish ID (https://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1289523)

MHannon

01/08/2008 10:49 PM

Hitchhiker starfish ID

Found this in my sump, there are 2 of them.

Can anyone tell me what it is, and more importantly, is it reef safe?

Just a size comparison
[IMG]http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w305/MHannon07/0108081957a.jpg[/IMG]

Underside
[IMG]http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w305/MHannon07/P1080173.jpg[/IMG]

Top
[IMG]http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w305/MHannon07/P1080174.jpg[/IMG]

MHannon

01/08/2008 11:20 PM

I heard it may eat corals, but in its defense, it has been on the glass for almost 2 weeks, and appears to be grazing algae.

greenbean36191

01/08/2008 11:43 PM

It's an [i]Asterina[/i] star. Most species are harmless, but a few will eat corals. The trouble is that there is no way to tell the difference between the two groups visually. Unless you have corals disappearing with these stars in the vicinity I wouldn't worry about them.

MHannon

01/08/2008 11:46 PM

Hmm, ok thanks. I dont have any corals in the sump, well a few kenya trees, but im not worried about them. I guess ill keep the starfish for now.

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