Can you help me identify this species of sea star?

[betsbabe]

Hi, everyone. Recently I recovered a sea star from our local beach in Sullivan's Island, SC (Atlantic). We took it home, and set him up in our salt water tank. I've been trying to figure out his species so that I can make sure that I'm properly feeding him, and I'm also curious to learn more about the species itself.
If you can offer any insight or information, it would be greatly appreciated!
Included links since the neither option in Insert Images is working for me... keeps saying "A temporary error has occured."
Top of Starfish:
http://img5.imageshack.us/i/dsc04080su.jpg/
Bottom of Starfish:
http://img163.imageshack.us/i/dsc04081t.jpg/

 

[brandonsivek]

This was not easy to find but here is what I believe it to be.
Northern Sea Star, (Asterias vulgaris)
http://jjvandecker.photoshelter.com/image/I0000NKlWjPFbCYE

 

[blackjacktang]

ive always hear it wasnt a good idea to take things direct from the ocean and keep them in your tank. Because they may carry disease. But i hope you the best of luck with it!

 

[btldreef]

It is also illegal.

 

[aquaknight]

Believe it's Asterias forbesi
Quote:
Originally Posted by Blackjacktang http:///forum/thread/382660/can-you-help-me-identify-this-species-of-sea-star#post_3344734
ive always hear it wasnt a good idea to take things direct from the ocean and keep them in your tank. Because they may carry disease. But i hope you the best of luck with it!
To be honest, that's a pretty big farce. Most of the stuff in the hobby, comes from the wild in the first place. And not much actually gets treated along the way. It's when you start cramming thousands of fish/inverts/coral into wholesaler's tank, distributor tanks, etc, that diseases start to flourish.
On that same token, if you don't know exactly what you're collecting, it's probably a good idea to leave it there. Some potentially nasty stuff is out there.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BTLDreef http:///forum/thread/382660/can-you-help-me-identify-this-species-of-sea-star#post_3344940
It is also illegal.
Maybe. Only Bahamian starfish are banned from recreational collecting in Florida, other starfish are fair game, within the quantity limits of course. However I can only imagine South Carolina has looser collection laws, if none existent at all, like here in Alabama. In Florida you only need a saltwater fishing license to start collecting. Typically the illegal part would be the collection area, state parks, protected areas, etc, are obviously off-limits.

 

[katsafados]

I doubt these are illegal to pull out of the ocean since I recently disected one of these starfish in my animal biology class and they had 5 5g buckets filled of them.