Looks like a starfish?

[capt_ahab]

Im a newby and I've just bought my first coral (hammer) and two green chromis a week ago. Today I found what looks to be a starfish in the top right hand corner of my tank. I think it might have been attached to the hammer coral at the time of purchase.
The pics I tried to take of it are crap but I'll put them up anyway. I guess good aquarium photography could be its own hobby in itself.
Its the size of my pinky finger nail, five symetrical (legs?), bluish green with 3 red dots/bumps at the center.
I didnt know if this would be good or bad for the tank.
Any advice would be appreciated

 

[markeo99]

get it out asterina star eat coral

 

[zeke92]

asterina's eat coral? really? crap *runs to take asterinas out of soon-to-be coral tank*

 

[rebelprettyboy]

Those dont eat coral. Maybe one in a million. Sign of a good tank. ull find a lot of them in ur reff when its well and established

 

[markeo99]

i was told by several people that they eat sps and harass clams maybe wait for more people to chime in but I would put him somewhere or you will never see him again

 

[markeo99]

go up to and do a search you will get mixed opinions

 

[jaymz]

GARF says they are coral eaters so I remove them when ever i see them....http://www.garf.org/STAR/starfish.html

 

[keri]

never had any asterinas eat any of my sps, lps or softies. *shrug*

 

[renogaw]

i had some eating my zoos.
i have pulled out two recently that were chowing down my coralline algae.
horrid little buggers... i put em in the fuge whenever i find em.

 

[reefreak29]

ive had hundreds over the years in my sps tanks and never saw one eat any coral only .05 percent of the species do

 

[mr_x]

i have many and all i've seen them eat is coralline.
i've never seen one on a coral.