Star fish

**Dragonwolf** · 11-09-2009, 11:22 AM

I found this little star fish in our tank ?? I have no idea where he came from because I haven't added anything to my tank lately. He's on the front glass (eating algae I think) and every time I see him he's a little bit bigger, right now he's pure white, about 1/2 inch. Is he anything I have to worry about?

http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/at...1&d=1257779968

**Phurst** · 11-09-2009, 12:26 PM

It appears to be an asternia star. By most accounts a harmless algae eater. Some people claim they eat soft corals, specifically zoas, but I have lots of them and have never had a problem.

**Dragonwolf** · 11-09-2009, 02:08 PM

Thanks Phurst, I'll keep an eye on my Zoas. Any idea where he came from? I haven't put anything new in my tank for months.

**Phurst** · 11-09-2009, 05:05 PM

It was almost certainly hiding in some live rock. i'm not sure why you haven't seen it until now, but there are likely more around. They reproduce pretty readily.

**CarmieJo** · 11-10-2009, 12:04 AM

I have them too and have never had any trouble with them. They are fissiparous and you will often see just a couple of legs attached to a sliver of oral disc crawling around.

**Dragonwolf** · 11-10-2009, 07:03 AM

Thanks Carmi --- had to get the dictionary out on that one.

**CarmieJo** · 11-10-2009, 09:06 PM

LOL, sorry, it is a side effect of being a nerdy kind of gal and replying to posts when I am tired. I'll get a definition tag made for fissiparous so it won't happen again.