star fish???

[redvicki]

I bought some live rock from a tank that was being broken down. It's been in a trash can in salt water with floww but no light for 2 weeks. I have several very small green star fish, and just found 2 things that look like serpant star but they have 6 legs, and about 3 small white star fish. The rock was transported dry for about 3 hours. Any clue what kind they are and if they are good or bad?

[kau_cinta_ku]

mini brittle stars and asterina stars would be my guess. very common on live rock.

[Aquarist007]

the green ones are bad the white ones are okay

[kau_cinta_ku]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12794407#post12794407 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by capn_hylinur
the green ones are bad the white ones are okay

the mini brittles are bad? IMO they are a great part of your CUC.

[redvicki]

How do I keep from transporting the green ones to my tank with the rock? Any guess on the serpant looking things? They really look like spiders......yuck

[kau_cinta_ku]

any chance you could post pics. so we know for sure if they are what we think?

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12794417#post12794417 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kau_cinta_ku
the mini brittles are bad? IMO they are a great part of your CUC.

Sam is there a difference between the minis and the brittle stars?

"One species in common use warrants a statutory warning. This is the Green Brittle Star of the genus Ophiarachna. This animal is a predatory fish eater, that does indeed do a spiffy janitorial job when small... but grows quickly, and under darkness of night can/does learn to eat aquarium fishes. This species has been documented to arch up in "sleeping caves" of captive fishes and drop down on unsuspecting meals. If you use this species, keep an eye on it, and a count on your piscine livestock."

www.wetwebmedia.com/brittlestars.htm

[kau_cinta_ku]

yeah, but that is the full size brittle star not the mini's that don't grow much bigger than an inch. these are the one's I am talking about :)
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a296/kau_cinta_ku/starfish.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a296/kau_cinta_ku/CIMG2288.jpg

these are harmless

[Aquarist007]

gottcha--I actuall don't call these green ones
thanks
you are correct these are okay and great for the tankt

[kau_cinta_ku]

I deff. know about the "green" ones though, I had one in my first tank when starting this hobby and found out the hard way about them :lol:

but I know what your talking about. hope you didn't take things the wrong way.

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12794527#post12794527 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kau_cinta_ku
I deff. know about the "green" ones though, I had one in my first tank when starting this hobby and found out the hard way about them :lol:

but I know what your talking about. hope you didn't take things the wrong way.

Sam are you kidding me--after all this time of working together with you and other great reefers here---I wouldn't dream of taking things the wrong way from you. I would rather a mistake be pointed out then not:smokin:

[redvicki]

Okay that picture is one of the types I've found. I'll try to post a picture of the other two today.

[dberry28]

mini brittle stars are good for a tank.