Starfish hitchhiker ID needed

[paintballer768]

Ok so 2 months after adding my last LR piece, I find this starfish on my top rock just hanging out there. Believe it or not, its got only 3 legs, and it doesnt look like any are missing either. Im going to say its about 1/2 inch in diameter. Its white. Definately not a brittlestar. The reason why Im worried is because it looks like the traditional starfish, and traditional starfish arent reef safe, and that spells trouble for me. Heres the pictars.

 

[paintballer768]

Scratch the 3 leg thing. I got a hold of it and it turned out it had its 4th leg cut so clean I didnt notice it. Still would like to konw what it was though.

 

[coraljunky]

Hard to tell from the pic, but likely a asterina star

 

[donald]

Originally Posted by coraljunky
Hard to tell from the pic, but likely a asterina star

+1

 

[paintballer768]

Sorry camera isnt the best. Ill look in the hitchhiker sticky and see if it is.

 

[paintballer768]

Asterinas are usually 5+ legs. This was 4. Im not sure, but he tried to eat an amphipod that was running around near him. Must not have been a good kind to have. Regardless, he's in the big ocean in the sky now.

 

[coraljunky]

Asterinas are usually 5+ legs. This was 4. Im not sure, but he tried to eat an amphipod that was running around near him. Must not have been a good kind to have. Regardless, he's in the big ocean in the sky now.[/QUOT
I've had them with 3 legs. You flushed it?! Why?

 

[paintballer768]

Because it was coming close to my ricordeas, and those are my babies. Nobody hurts them hahaha

 

[coraljunky]

Originally Posted by paintballer768
Because it was coming close to my ricordeas, and those are my babies. Nobody hurts them hahaha
They are harmless. I have tons in my frag tanks. I'm pretty sensitive about my rics too.

 

[paintballer768]

Hahah next time I see one Ill let it go. I want to start up a ric-only tank soon too. No starfish allowed!

 

[coraljunky]

Originally Posted by paintballer768
Hahah next time I see one Ill let it go. I want to start up a ric-only tank soon too. No starfish allowed!
Let me know, I'm putting together another frag pack with a couple rics.

 

[ophiura]

It is an Asterina - number of arms is not an issue.
Most are hamrless...now and then there is a problem, but the overwhelming majority are harmless.
BTW, not all "traditional starfish" are predators...not even close. In fact, many will starve to death in our tanks.

 

[paintballer768]

Oh, all the starfish Ive read on this site most are not good for tanks.