Little star fish?

[beaver]

So, my tank is new, I have a sand sifting star and some hermits also an emirald crab some snails. Today I saw that there is a tiny star fish in there about the size of my pinky nail. How do stars reproduce? where did this tiny thing come from?

 

[dueces]

probadly can in with one of you inverts. If yo have LR then it might have been on that.

 

[superhero]

It has probally come from ur lr im almost 100% sure. I have hadf a couple that i got but i dont see them anymore, its nothing to be alarmed aobut and i doubt if he will reproduce but ask ophiura, she is the star exepert :happyfish :happyfish :happyfish

 

[beaver]

Hmm, Its been almost a month since I put the LR in there. I would have thought I would have seen um before now.. but what do I know lol. I can accept the LR idea. I hope he lives has 6 arms.

 

[exile415]

It Prbably came from your live rock. Live rock carries a LOT of living things. Once my friend bought one and about 20 little crabs came out. it was funny but then so cool.

 

[ophiura]

The common hitch hiker seastar is Asterina, and you commonly do not notice them for awhile. They reproduce easily by splitting, and do not get much larger than a nickel or so. A search should turn up loads of info, though sadly perhaps not pictures yet.
I would also search for sand sifter star, one I do not recommend as most are doomed to die of starvation in 6 or so months - perhaps up to a year - depending on tank size. I strongly recommend you see if it takes to spot feeding (anything meaty placed near an arm).

 

[beaver]

Thanks for the info, Ill check into that, I havent tryed spot feading the sand sifter but Ill give it a shot. It ate a small snail when I first put it in there, since then I have added more snails, slightly bigger ones that I dont think it could eat. Ill try some shrimp or see what they have at the LFS.