little white starfish????

banditpowdercoat · #1 03-18-2009, 12:21 AM

While siphoning the water out today, I was skimming the top of the sand, and I noticed little white strands. Closer inspection, they look like starfish. White, kinda fuzzy legs, 5 of them radiating from center point. about 3/8" across fro the largest one, most 1/4". I assume they are benificcial, but what are they exactly?

parkinsn · #2 03-18-2009, 12:25 AM

Are they the 3 legged variety? If so they are coral eaters i believe.

FlamesFan · #3 03-18-2009, 12:25 AM

Im not sure about beneficial but I had a bunch that meet your description which were not beneficial at all. They were attached all over a carnation which caused it to wilt away to about 25% of it's origional size. I had to dip it to kill them off and I haven't seen any return since. I still have no clue what they were but they match what you are describing.

Myka · #4 03-18-2009, 12:28 AM

Google Asterina starfish. Harmless, good scavengers. If you get a billion of them you know your tank has a bunch of crap in it. So, as long as your tank is decently clean they won't become plague-like.

banditpowdercoat · #5 03-18-2009, 12:30 AM

They 5 legged

Thx Myka. I hope at they are. There wasnt alot of them. But they are below the large substrate. They must have been in with the dry coarse sand I reciently got? Havn't added anything in a long time.

They look like this tho. With all 5 legs same length and white, no color

Myka · #6 03-18-2009, 12:34 AM

Oh, those are mini brittle stars. They stay that size. They are also beneficial, and their numbers will fluctuate according to the cleanliness of your tank.

banditpowdercoat · #7 03-18-2009, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Myka

Oh, those are mini brittle stars. They stay that size. They are also beneficial, and their numbers will fluctuate according to the cleanliness of your tank.

Is there anything you know??? LOL

Myka · #8 03-18-2009, 02:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by banditpowdercoat

Is there anything you know??? LOL

Yep, I know 76 things.

banditpowdercoat · #9 03-18-2009, 02:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Myka

Yep, I know 76 things.

LMAO, My bad. darn Typo. I forgot the Don't .

But hey, now I know 1-76. Im catching up

Myka · #10 03-18-2009, 02:40 AM

I have been keeping fish since I was about 8, and sw since I was 10ish, and now I'm almost a couple decades older than that so I've picked up a few things along the way.

A couple of good friends of mine have nicknamed me Mindipedia.