Starfish

[mombar10]

I discovered a starfish in my reef tank. At least i think it is one. It has more then 5 legs, possibly 6 to 8. It looks tan/pink in color and sort of looks like a ruffle. Right now it is only about 1/2 " across. Anyone have an idea what kind it is.

 

[ophiura]

It is probably an Asterinid (Asterina) seastar, which are common hitch hikers. They typically have 5-7 uneven arms, as they reproduce by splitting. Most are harmless, though a few people report having some that are attracted to corals (especially SPS corals). Keep an eye out, but rarely are they a problem that need to be removed (but it does sometimes happen). Most are feeding on algal/bacterial films and appear on the glass and rocks.