What is this thing!

[jason604]

Just spotted this thing that looks like a baby starfish I think? But it's all white and my only starfish in my tank is purple

http://i1292.photobucket.com/albums/b578/kosin604/F487596D-9761-4906-8E90-1224C1C5F5EF-2145-0000018B8BCC4EB0_zps157db387.jpg

[Proteus]

Asteria. There fine IMO

[Dearth]

Asteria. There fine IMO

+1 some consider them pest starfish but not considered harmful just like to procreate like crazy

[Madreefer]

http://www.reefkeeping.com/joomla/index.php/current-issue/article/45-reefkeeping-101-

[jason604]

Thx guys =) if they just spawn fast but not harmful then they good in my books =). Wonder where it came from.

[LoJack]

Thx guys =) if they just spawn fast but not harmful then they good in my books =). Wonder where it came from.

Asterina's normally show up on pieces of LR that coral are attached too.

I dip, QT, and started with dry rock and I still have Asterina's in my tank lol

They are a pain. And they do eat algae as their staple, however, in a clean tank … they will move on and start eating other things.

There are lots of articles, and threads all over RC with photos of asterina's munching zoa polyps, and pics and time lapses of asterinas munching on SPS bases as they pass over them.

There is believed to be many many different species of asterina that are almost indistinguishable from one another. The common theme seems to be that 5 legged asterinas are not predatory, but you have to watch closely if you have the 6 legged variety.

[The Guy]

+1 some consider them pest starfish but not considered harmful just like to procreate like crazy

Yep! Got lots in both tanks anyone want some? :whistle:

[LoJack]

On my next J&L order I plan to order a harlequin to get rid of them, and then pass on the harly to a buddy who's got thousands of asterinas as well.

[canadianbudz604]

I have so many of these things I try and suck them out during water changes but there harmless imo