Another what is this for you?

[bugsman]

I was looking in the tank seeing what I could see and I noticed this white blob looking thing crawling on my zoa's. I've taken a picture but can't seem to get it any better than this for now. I'll keep trying if it shows itself again. But actually there are two things in this picture, one is the white blob outlined in red, the other are the purple feather looking things to the left of it on the end of this rock. If you can tell, are they good or bad and what are they? They've been there awhile and they aren't spreading but they are getting bigger in size. The crawling white blob I haven't seen before. There's a bristle worm that lives under this rock, could it be a baby one? At first I thought it might be a brittle star, but I'm just not sure. I'll just have to keep observing it when it shows itself again. It crawled into a crevice of that rock around the zoa's.

 

[snakeblitz33]

Without seeing it in person, I can't tell what the "white blob" is. Those small purple feather looking things are tube worms. Once you have a healthy aquarium, and a lot of food in the water column, they will spread everywhere!

 

[bugsman]

So tube worms are a good thing then? I wish I had a better descriptive word for what I saw. Hopefully it will show again and I can get a better photo of it.

 

[snakeblitz33]

Yes, tube worms are good. At least typically not detrimental. Over time with adequate food in the water column and high calcium levels, they have been known to clog pumps!
If what you are looking at looks like a snail without a shell, it's probably a nudibranch. Get a better pic and ID it. If it looks like a snail but has a hard internal shell and a soft covering it could be a limpet.
Need a better pic to ID it properly.

 

[bugsman]

Thanks for giving me something to research. I looked again in my tank before lights off last night and lights on this morning and didn't see it. I will continue to keep my eyes open and hopefully get a better picture of it.

 

[spanko]

Could be a sea cucmber
http://beachwatchers.wsu.edu/island/monitoring/monitor/Eupentacta.htm
Or a zonathid eating nudibranch.

 

[bugsman]

After doing some research today on the internet, I'm beginning to think it's an Asternia Star. I haven't seen any on the glass, but when I first spotted it, it looked like a star. I've looked at pictures of the nudibranch and limpets and it just doesn't seem to fit. But I'm diligently looking at the tank when I'm home and hope to catch another look at it. My zoanthid's are growing with the exception of one small spot which has looked exactly the same for about 2 weeks - hasn't gotten bigger. If I can catch another picture of it, I'll post it. It has me puzzled for sure and I'm so new at this and there is so much information out there. This forum has been a big help.

 

[bugsman]

An early good morning. I think I've gotten a better photo of the critter finally. It just showed itself again yesterday. If I need to get rid of this, please let me know how. Is it safe to pick it off with my hands or do I need to get some long tweezers? If it's safe to keep, please, what is it??

It's in the same place it showed itself the last time.

 

[spanko]

Now in that picture it looks like some type of flatworm. If it were me I would pluck it out, but let's see what others say.

 

[teresaq]

in that pic it does look like an Asternia Star

 

[snakeblitz33]

I agree with TQ, it really does look like an Asterina Starfish... they don't have to have all of their legs. Most of them don't. Flat worms are curved like that, but usually not that color or texture. Flat worms also typically have a distinguishable head/mouth area. Asterina Starfishes are harmless and beneficial to your tank.

 

[bugsman]

I've seen it a few times now and it isn't getting any bigger or changing in anyway. I just keep watching it. For now I'm going to leave it in the tank, but I've got my eye on it.

 

[bugsman]

I'm back on this because it has finally shown itself on the glass in all it's glory. It is an Asternia Star and I haven't noticed it doing any damage in all this time and I really like it. What do you think?

 

[slice]

This is what Saxman and Cranberry have to say about Asterina Stars:
http://www.lionfishlair.com/hitchhiker/asterina.shtml

 

[bugsman]

I plan on keeping my eyes open. I think my only concern will be it splitting and reproducing too many. So far I only see the one and I really like it.

 

[saxman]

I've had buds that have had them reproduce with impunity, but we've never had that happen. Back in my reefing daze, I did, however, have a couple of them decide they liked a perfectly healthy T. maxima clam, and chewed a hole in its byssal organ resulting in the clam's death. Other than that one instance, we actually add them to many of our setups to help with the clean up.

 

[bugsman]

I've been reading and researching these little beauties since I first spotted the "white blob" and sometimes all that reading, researching and conflicting opinions can get somewhat confusing. But I made the decision to keep this and hope I'll be lucky enough that all will go well. Thanks for looking in on this thread and commenting. It's appreciated.