wierd starfish like hitch-hikers -- dangerous?

[socalreefer73]

A MAS member in my area was tearing down his tank and I got quite a few specimens, along with the livestock, thes odd starfish like hitch-hikers came... anyone have a clue what they are and if I should be worried?? In the last photo, there are two on the back glass...


http://www.princealexi.com/images/star1.jpg

http://www.princealexi.com/images/star2.jpg

http://www.princealexi.com/webcam/webcam.jpg

[BillnJennh]

Can't really tell from the pics, but could be an Asterina starfish. These stay small and have never bothered anything in my tank (some will heatedly argue that point, though), except for the odd small patch of coralline. Do a search on Asterina.

[marinelife]

I have them in my tank and they hurt my acros by eating them

[socalreefer73]

I don't have any acropora.. will they they starve out and die? (hopefully?)

bump

[CrystalAZ]

MOST asterinas simply graze on algae and are good guys. There are a few that are coral eaters, but most of the ones in reef tanks are good.

I have a bunch of them with no ill effects.

They should just live on algae... no need to worry about them unless you see them eating something they shouldn't be.

Crystal

[BillnJennh]

That's the general consensus here. They seem to eat small patches of green film algae and small patches of coralline. I've never noticed them chow down on any of my coral mates.

[marinelife]

http://www.garf.org/STAR/starfish.html