Funky starfish

[Airphotog]

So I have a handfull of what I think are starfish on my glass. They range in size from 1/4" to 5/8". The thing that is strange is some have 3 legs some have 5 and some have 6. What is up with these?

 

[ak_reefer]

More than likely they are Astrea starfish.

 

[NC2WA]

Yup..ak_reefer is correct.

Some people like them some people want them out of their tank..

 

[user 2204]

I have a bunch of those in my tank. They're harmless unless they get a little to big. Then they could go after your corals and start eating them. I sometimes move them from one tank to another or even see if any RF peeps want them for their system.

 

[SaltwaterNoobs]

+1 Astrea. I have a bunch of weird ones with crazy numbers of legs. They irritate my zoas, though, so I pluck them out.

 

[TJL]

You all are really close, they're Asterina sp starfish (just in case someone wants to Google or look them up) and most are safe for our reeftanks and feed on coraline algae. I have had them in my system for decades with no ill effects. My two Wrasses keep thier population in check very well.

cheers, Todd

P.S. Astrea sp are the snails we like to keep

 

[SaltwaterNoobs]

You all are really close, they're Asterina sp starfish ...
P.S. Astrea sp are the snails we like to keep

I thought so, but when I googled "Astrea" there actually were images of the asterinas, so I thought maybe they were two different types