Baby Starfish

[blueberryboomer]

Hi all, while watching the tank last night we saw a baby starfish on the glass, wow was I totally amazed. Now I don't no if he was no some corals we added to our tank last week or if he came from our General Star that we had in the reef for a short time while we we're waiting for the 200 to cycle. Does anyone know how long it takes for them to show themselves after they have been laid or hatched or whatever it is these critters do? We've only had one other star fish in that tank since we set it up, it was a choc chip and he has been gone for about 6 months.
I don't want to put it into our F/O yet, I'm afraid our Huma Huma or someone will eat him. Any info would be great. Thanks Lisa

 

[b_ball12_99]

Maybe it is that missing starfish leg from way back.

 

[fat_ed]

Probably came from the live rock. I recently discovered that I have a green serpent star living in my tank that I never added intentionally. I was peering in a dark corner of the tank, and I noticed two large fuzzy green legs sticking out of the rock attempting to snatch food. I could barely believe my eyes. Every now and then I'll also see a microstar (about 1/4" long) moving on the glass. Amazing stuff, that live rock.

 

[blueberryboomer]

He looks like either our old choc chip or our general in shape, but he is white, and about the size of a dime. Lisa

 

[nacl-h2o]

It's not unusul to get baby stars or small stars as hitchikers. Be carful, and keep an eye on it, there are starfish in that size range as adults that feed on SPS.
[ September 20, 2001: Message edited by: DAN THE MAN ]

 

[master of all the reefs]

I too find these guys from time to time in my reefs. they are small and have larger legs on one side then the other. the reason for that is because when all the legs are the same size , they split in half. that's how they reproduce. after some research on them, I found out that they are really bad for the tank. they are killers! favorite meal, all sps corals! my advise is to catch them whenever you see them. I also forgot to note, they camoflage themselves , so you can pretty much only see them on the glass.

 

[nm reef]

I've seen a few white stars in my system some are very small & one is about the size of a dime....seldom see them ......I think they are part of the ls.....sort of ls hitch hikers...........

 

[avacyn]

There is a kind of brittle starfish that only grows about about an 1 in diameter as an adult. They are sand sifters and very beneficial to your tank, although you may never see them. I believe they are whitish in color. If anyone has any and would like to mail me some, (or is close enough in ND or MN that I can drive to pick them up) e-mail me privately at avacyn@worldnet.att.net
Thanks!