Starfish ID?

**PapaMcEuin** · 07-15-2008, 10:51 PM

Can anyone help identify these starfish. I got them with a frag that also came with xenia. I don't know what they are but I have about 15 that I can count. Some are partials, some are whole. I saw one nice size (comparatively) but it was likely no larger than a centimeter tip to tip.

**dillan** · 07-16-2008, 08:37 PM

it's an asternia

**CarmieJo** · 07-21-2008, 09:05 PM

They don't get very big so the cm sized one was about as big as they get. They reproduce by fission (dividing themselves).

**Mr. Diggler** · 09-29-2008, 10:57 PM

Are they dangerous to corals?

thanks,
Jason

**CarmieJo** · 09-29-2008, 11:11 PM

Not in my experience.

**PhotoJohn** · 09-30-2008, 02:19 AM

Diggler, no offense but can you please change your photo?

**Mr. Diggler** · 09-30-2008, 10:15 AM

Originally Posted by PhotoJohn

Diggler, no offense but can you please change your photo?

Sure. Sorry to offend you.

**spanko** · 09-30-2008, 02:24 PM

Asterina have a few different species, the one you posted should not be a problem unless they become plague proportions. If they do I would get on a program of removal. They are know to bother Zoanthid coral as their population becomes large enough that they deplete the available food sources. after a time you will start to notice some with varying numbers of legs. To propagate they drop legs that then become other starfish.

**Jace** · 09-30-2008, 10:28 PM

I personally would love to have thiese starfish in my aquarium because i try to keep my aquarium of good and bad stuff. Remember Why do most of us start up a tank. Because of fish in the ocean and coral beds getting polluted so like me. I will let anything grow in my tank and do the extra step twords a coral to feed it and ill try to lay down some food on the sand bed for the star fish. Maybe if they reproduce way to much i might remove a couple. But there fun to watch... and i love to try to keep it real. Anyways good luck :P
oh and p.s when i said anything anything that is reef safe

**dillan** · 09-30-2008, 10:42 PM

all you need to get your hands on is one they will definately multiply.if you lived a little closer i'd let you take a couple of mine.check the display tanks at your lfs asternia are pretty common i'm sure if you spotted one in the tank they would probably sell one to you cheap.

**CarmieJo** · 09-30-2008, 11:17 PM

Or if you have a reef or general aquarium club in your area you can probably find someone to give you a few.

**almondsaz** · 07-26-2009, 12:11 PM

I have an infestation of them in my 125 DT. I purchased a Harlequin Shrimp to help with the population, but think I might have gotten her a little late. Too bad you don't live closer, I typically scoop off the back wall of the DT with a net and then dispose of them - you could certainly have them. I get about 75-100 with a net scoop when i wait about a month or so.

When I first started in the hobby I was curious about them and bought a couple for $4 from my LFS. I do like them because they are all different - haven't harmed anything and I have all softies and LPS (Acans, Duncans, Scoly).