A baby starfish!

[jcarroll]

My sister was here a few days ago and found a little baby starfish in my tank! I had never seen it before. I just wondered if someone could enlighten me a little bit about it because I don't know much about the reproduction of starfish. I have a sand sifting starfish, and the baby is definitely the same kind. I haven't put anything new in the tank for a long time, so it's not a hitchhiker. Also, my three shrimp who I've had in the tank for about a year all disappeared! I started looking around for them after they'd been missing for a few days and noticed that I have a TON of these little masses on the back two corners of my tank that look like little baby shrimp! I finally found one of the shrimp while I was searching for them. He was under a rock in the very back corner of the tank. Do shrimp die when they have little babies? I find it so odd that I've only found one of the three shrimp so far.
Just looking for some thoughts and knowledge on this stuff! I guess my tank has become quite the "lover's lane"!!!

 

[reefer545]

The baby stars are probably asterina. Good news, adn proves of good signs of life.. They can be a nuisance, but are mostly good scavengers. hte baby shrimp are not very common to grow to adulthood, but possible. Pics would much more helpful. Congrats

 

[michaeltx]

the shrimp anything could have happened to them from a bad molt causing them to die off or an illness or really anything. as far as the baby stars are the legs different sizes? I highly doubt that its the and sifter that had babies.
but I agree that they might asterina stars.
Mike

 

[bigarn]

If the arms are long and thin I'd say they're mini-brittles. As stated, I doubt they're baby sandsifters.

 

[deltablack22]

Originally Posted by bigarn
If the arms are long and thin I'd say they're mini-brittles. As stated, I doubt they're baby sandsifters.
When it comes to hitch hikers, I would trust BigArn if he told me they were little school busses.... This guy is the man...

 

[veni vidi vici]

Originally Posted by DeltaBlack22
When it comes to hitch hikers, I would trust BigArn if he told me they were little school busses.... This guy is the man...

 

[bigarn]

Originally Posted by DeltaBlack22
When it comes to hitch hikers, I would trust BigArn if he told me they were little school busses.... This guy is the man...

Awww Shucks ..... thanks Delta ...

 

[deltablack22]

Originally Posted by bigarn
Awww Shucks ..... thanks Delta ...

Everytime I view one of these posts it reminds me of the day that I posted 3 different threads of hitchikers and within a matter of minutes you commented on all three and told me what they were. Just showin tha love...

 

[ophiura]

I agree that it is an Asterina, and full size as well. Not a juvenile of the sand sifter (lucky, since it would die...

).

 

[jmangione]

yerpin