Reef Central Online Community

Go Back   Reef Central Online Community > General Interest Forums > Reef Discussion
Blogs FAQ Calendar Mark Forums Read

Notices

User Tag List

Reply
Thread Tools
Unread 01/14/2006, 08:01 AM   #1
Bax
Premium Member
 
Bax's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 5,619
Question Hitchhiker ID Starfish-like critter

I have recently seen several of these small grey to light grey starfish-like critters. For the most part they stay hidden during the day emerging mid to late afternoon. They generally stay on the low side or shaded areas of rock features. However I saw one climbing the rear glass mid day so ... I dunno?

They are small, 3/8" or so across 1/2" tops.

They appear to graze alga including coraline alga.

I have counted seven fingers & six fingers. They seem radially symmetrical but not perfectly so.

They are distinct individuals in terms of shape and color pattern. I can recognize several as the same individual and just yesterday saw a particularly light colored individual for the first time.

Currently I count their number as about eight. That's what scares the c@#p out of me. If I see eight or so, am I being overrun by something?

Sorry for the small pic. I zoomed and enhanced a version of this photo and it was perfect but would not upload properly so here the best shot I have...




__________________
150 gallon Perfecto with 1500 gph GH overflow / DIY stand-wine bar / Dart Return / SRO XP3000 Ext skimmer / 75 g frag / 40 g fuge / 40 g DIY sump / Orphek P156 & Kessil 150A

Current Tank Info: 150 DT/ 40B fuge/ 75g frag/ 40 g sump/ SRO XP 3000 Ext/ TUNZEs & VorTechs circulation/Dart return/ MTC Pro Cal/ UV & Oz
Bax is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 01/14/2006, 08:04 AM   #2
Sugar Magnolia
Registered Member
 
Sugar Magnolia's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 17,691
Asterina sp. Harmless grazer.


__________________
Adrienne

The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.
Sugar Magnolia is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 01/14/2006, 08:08 AM   #3
Chaotic Reefer4u
♥Acropora Aficionado♥
 
Chaotic Reefer4u's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Hollister,Ca.
Posts: 5,163
Thumbs up

Quote:
Originally posted by Sugar Magnolia
Asterina sp. Harmless grazer.
Agreed


__________________
Live everyday as if it was your last, take time to smell the flowers,
enjoy all things living, never take anything for granted, you just never know when your number might be up...

Current Tank Info: * 90g. Reef Ready TruVu tank with 30g. Platinum Filtration Series Sump SpS Acro enthusiast *
Chaotic Reefer4u is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 01/14/2006, 08:11 AM   #4
Bax
Premium Member
 
Bax's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 5,619
Cool!

Thanks!!!!


__________________
150 gallon Perfecto with 1500 gph GH overflow / DIY stand-wine bar / Dart Return / SRO XP3000 Ext skimmer / 75 g frag / 40 g fuge / 40 g DIY sump / Orphek P156 & Kessil 150A

Current Tank Info: 150 DT/ 40B fuge/ 75g frag/ 40 g sump/ SRO XP 3000 Ext/ TUNZEs & VorTechs circulation/Dart return/ MTC Pro Cal/ UV & Oz
Bax is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 01/14/2006, 10:49 AM   #5
Paintbug
Registered Member
 
Paintbug's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Stoneville, NC
Posts: 6,169
they will multiply in the tank. they mulitply by splitting. you will see complete ones and ones that look like they are just a leg. cool little creatures. and it looks like you have blue ones? i have only seen 1 other person with them. mine are all white. a few people have report asterinas to attack SPS corals so if you have any keep any eye on them.


__________________
Never ask a girl over to see your crabs!!

<-Tony->

Current Tank Info: NONE currently
Paintbug is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 01/14/2006, 01:36 PM   #6
Bax
Premium Member
 
Bax's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 5,619
See, now that's what I am worried about!

I'll have to do some research, but I wasn't even certain they were a starfish or what, I was pretty sure they weren't flat worms ... any way I'll keep a close watch on them.


__________________
150 gallon Perfecto with 1500 gph GH overflow / DIY stand-wine bar / Dart Return / SRO XP3000 Ext skimmer / 75 g frag / 40 g fuge / 40 g DIY sump / Orphek P156 & Kessil 150A

Current Tank Info: 150 DT/ 40B fuge/ 75g frag/ 40 g sump/ SRO XP 3000 Ext/ TUNZEs & VorTechs circulation/Dart return/ MTC Pro Cal/ UV & Oz
Bax is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 01/14/2006, 02:29 PM   #7
Paintbug
Registered Member
 
Paintbug's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Stoneville, NC
Posts: 6,169
well if you worry it much and feel you dont want them send them to me!! i would really like the blue ones.


__________________
Never ask a girl over to see your crabs!!

<-Tony->

Current Tank Info: NONE currently
Paintbug is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 01/14/2006, 02:47 PM   #8
scrmbld33
Registered Member
 
scrmbld33's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: south jersey 08050
Posts: 2,394
ill take some blues ones 2, you should be fine


__________________
a left over shrimp shedding is not "a sicilian message meaning luca brasi sleeps with the fishes"
fish are friends, not food

Current Tank Info: 90gal salt, 2 250mh 14k hamiltons 2 110 actinic, 127lbs LR,50lbs tonga 70lbs indonesia 7lbs tonga branch asm g3
scrmbld33 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 01/15/2006, 08:06 AM   #9
Bax
Premium Member
 
Bax's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 5,619
LOL ... well I am not that worried yet


__________________
150 gallon Perfecto with 1500 gph GH overflow / DIY stand-wine bar / Dart Return / SRO XP3000 Ext skimmer / 75 g frag / 40 g fuge / 40 g DIY sump / Orphek P156 & Kessil 150A

Current Tank Info: 150 DT/ 40B fuge/ 75g frag/ 40 g sump/ SRO XP 3000 Ext/ TUNZEs & VorTechs circulation/Dart return/ MTC Pro Cal/ UV & Oz
Bax is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 01/15/2006, 08:16 AM   #10
jasper24
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Marietta, GA
Posts: 2,120
I have both white and blue/gray ones. The white ones are always on the glass. The blue ones are always on LR and sometimes on my corals. I remove the blue ones when I find them. I am not saying that they are harming my corals but more than once they have been on my zoanthids or lps. I am not willing to risk it.


jasper24 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 01/15/2006, 08:27 AM   #11
MyMonkey
Persona Non Grata
 
MyMonkey's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Oklahoma City
Posts: 2,106
You may want to contact Melev or look on his site: Melevsreef.com He had a problem with the Blue asterina as you show in your picture. If I recall correctly they eat some SPS corals. I would at least check into that. I am not positive but I remember reading some negative info on the blue ones. Good luck.


__________________
The worst thing about an unwritten law is that you don't know where to go to erase it.

Current Tank Info: 20 Long.10 months to my 240 In wall with Fish Room.
MyMonkey is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 07:49 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Powered by Searchlight © 2024 Axivo Inc.
Use of this web site is subject to the terms and conditions described in the user agreement.
Reef CentralTM Reef Central, LLC. Copyright ©1999-2022
User Alert System provided by Advanced User Tagging v3.3.0 (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.