Unknown Hitchiker

marcingo · #1 10-12-2006, 02:14 AM

Hey. I cant get a pic of the hitchiker in question but im just wondering if anyone has any idea what this could be. It just appeared today in some live rock i bought from someone. Basically it's body is shaped sort of like a star fish. It has 6 fairly long legs and almost no body. 4 legs are at one end of the body 2 of which are longer than the other two and then 2 more legs at the other end of its body. It is appears to be striped black and white. Anyone have any ideas and if you do know what it could be is it reef safe in a 10 gallon nano?

SeaHorse_Fanatic · #2 10-12-2006, 04:47 AM

Could be a brittle or serpent star. They do come in black & white. Could be one that is slightly injured & that would have resulted in the weird shape.

Anthony

kwirky · #3 10-13-2006, 06:20 AM

don't know too much, but most brittle stars grow to 8-12". kinda large for a 10 gallon nano.

marcingo · #4 10-13-2006, 05:10 PM

Ill probably have to wait for it to get too big to hide in the live rock holes before I can take it out I guess. Would LFS or anyone else take this type of star or are they undesirable?

Quagmire · #5 10-13-2006, 11:59 PM

They're good scavengers if thats what it is.Could also be a mini Brittle star,I have lots of those in my tank.

Matt · #6 10-14-2006, 12:32 AM

I've got dozens of those in my tanks, they're in all sorts of nooks and crannies. They seem safe, prolific, stay small.

scuglass · #7 10-14-2006, 10:36 PM

this will help
http://www.melevsreef.com/id/