Midnight hitch hiker's hunt (ID please)

mrhasan · #1 10-09-2012, 07:49 AM

So I got bought some new frags today and suddenly, for the first time, I have witnessed hitch hikers in my tank.

1. I guess this is asterina but not totally sure (since I read that non-reef safe asterina-lookalike stars exists). So I took it out (saw one only) as soon as I have spot it. ID anyone?

2. This is the cool spotting. I got a hammer frag today and there's this two small opening between the tentacles and from that, something that looks like porcelain crab's filter feeders coming out and going in. I tried looking closer to it but I can't seem to find any porcelain crab within. There's just two opening and those feeds comes out and goes in. ID please.

eli@fijireefrock.com · #2 10-09-2012, 08:02 AM

The fun of midnight hawk.lol
The 1st photo is of a reef safe asterina.
The second photo is another reef safe not a crab but a worm from the Sabellidae family.
Hope that helps.

mrhasan · #3 10-09-2012, 08:06 AM

Great! Thanks for the info

Can you please give me any tips on how to tell which asterina is reef safe and which is not?

And so that thing is more like feather duster right? I was quite amazed but got a bit worried since it was coming out and going in continuously (even now); just like what porcelain crabs' feeders do. Do you know any specific name for it?

Anyway, thanks again

Now I can sleep in peace :P

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elias@caco3reef.com

The fun of midnight hawk.lol
The 1st photo is of a reef safe asterina.
The second photo is another reef safe not a crab but a worm from the Sabellidae family.
Hope that helps.

reefwars · #4 10-09-2012, 08:29 AM

the second one is a barnicle , harmless but i doubt it would live in your tank lonterm.

imo all asterina stars are harmful.....but some say the all white ones are safe.

subman · #5 10-09-2012, 04:00 PM

+1 even the "reef safe" ones can grow into epidemic proportions quickly in the right siuation

mrhasan · #6 10-09-2012, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reefwars

the second one is a barnicle , harmless but i doubt it would live in your tank lonterm.

imo all asterina stars are harmful.....but some say the all white ones are safe.

Thanks Danny. I will be uploading some pics of zoas I got yesterday for ID - something of your expertise