Star Fish ID?

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suprbeagle

Guest
We have a very tiny starfish that came as a hitchhiker. Any guesses on what he could be? Maybe a chocolate chip?? TIA.
 
007

007

Active Member
asterina star . . . algae eater and perfectly reef safe.
(unless you have the rare variety that will eat SPS corals, but if you dont have SPS then nothing to worry about)
 
pwisecup

pwisecup

New Member
I also have two tiny starfish that just recently "appeared" in my tank. They look like yours, I think. Is yours a drab brownish grey? Is it about the size of the end of your small finger? This may be what I have. I've been wondering what they are.
 
lovethesea

lovethesea

Active Member
boy, I am hedging towards a CC also. Do you have a clearer shot? Does it look like little bumps at all on the top of him?
Our hitchhiker (an asternia) is whiter than that.
If its a CC, in time he will be a threat to your reef.
 
tonya-sr

tonya-sr

Member
It looks to me like, Asterina's, Region: Circumtropical, Description: Very small sea star, some only 1/4 inch in diameter, others up to about 1 inch. Three species are commonly imported with LR. A small whitish Asterina sp. feeds on algae on the aquarium glass. Other larger species may sometimes feed on coral tissue and are dangerous in a reef aquarium because they proliferate rapidly by fission. Similers: None. Desirasble/undesirable features: harmful to corals. Some species are reef safe. They may be utilized as food for Hymenocera sp. shrimp. Food: Herbivorous. Some eat coral tissue. Special considerations: Moniter them to be sure they don't aet your corals. Hardiness: Reproduce prolifically. Life span years. LOL.
 
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suprbeagle

Guest
We actually have 3 of them. They are very tiny and look exactly like miniature CCs. More tan than whitish in color. They also have the darker "nubs" like CCs have. I'll try to get a clearer shot - my camera isn't the greatest for macro pictures.
 
S

suprbeagle

Guest

Originally posted by Tizzo
Love the dog!!!
Thanks! She's my baby. :)
 
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