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[numlock]

Also does anyone know what this is, it has just appeard in the past week, it started out as 2 legs and is slowly getting more. they almost look like small squid or octopuss legs, they dont retract at night or durring the day.

[peterl23454]

looks like a baby{micro?} brittle star..good stuff imo

does it have black bands?

[Meeko]

I agree, serpent/brittle star. They are detritavores which can clean crevices normally not accessible to other detritavores...

[numlock]

It has light tan colored strips, about 3 of them on each arm, evenly on each arm. They all appear to be coming out of the same hole, the anamal has not moved at this point. It doesnt strike me as being a star fish but i guess i could be wrong.

[numlock]

^

[peterl23454]

yeah ..it's probably a star...i've noticed another one on some lr/green star polyps i got.it does the same thing..only 3 arms are out of like one or two holes

[Wee Man]

could be aptasia, though the brittle star is most likely

[peterl23454]

it's not aptasia

[Rock Anemone]

Looks like it might be Aiptasia. If it dosen't move and is always there day and night, it is most likely an Aiptasia. However, the only real way to find out would be lifting the rock slighty.

Rock Anemone:D

[peterl23454]

it might be aptasia like i might be the president. jk
hell..it might be an octopus.

i would put money on the brittle star though!

"the animal hasnt moved"....i bet the arms do ...
independently of the current right.

[Rock Anemone]

The "arms" on the bottom do look like a Brittlestar however the ones on top seem to be much thicker and get thinner towards the end, like an Aiptasia.

The only way we can actually know what it is is if the rock is lifted.

Rock Anemone:D

[TomH]

My vote's on brittle/serpent star as well -- its doesn't look like any aptaisia that I've ever seen. . . .

BTW -- What kind of substrate is that? Oyster shells??

[numlock]

the substarte is kind of a mix of crushed shells and sand, the arms on the animal get smaller they kind of almost look like little joints that make a chain if that makes any sence to anyone.

[numlock]

The animals arms do move seperate from the current, there are always at least 2 of them out at a time, i dont think i have seen any more them 5 out total though.

[iCam]

I too have one of these, and was going to post about it. The one I have seems too big to be one of those small brittle stars. The "arms" have banded markings.

[Meeko]

How big is too big? Some of my serpent/brittle stars have arms which are about an inch or so long... The banded arms are consistent. Are they dark brown and white bands? If so, sounds like this is what you have.

[YellowDesmo998]

Originally posted by Meeko
... Are they dark brown and white bands? If so, sounds like this is what you have.

You mean like this? If so, it's Aptasia...

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=5005&papass=&sort=1&thecat=500

[Meeko]

No, see numlock's pic above...

[peterl23454]

yall want people to think they have aptasia dont you?

get a better pic- i thnk the b stars are ok untill they get to the possible shrimp/fish catching size.

[Meeko]

If it's a micro-brittle/serpent star, it will never get to the size where it can catch shrimp/fish. These guys eat detritus. I've heard that green serpent stars are carnivorous, but I don't think that's what you have. Most of these hitchhikers are the microstars...

[Rock Anemone]

Meeko's Correct!:thumbsup:

Rock Anemone:D