Hitchhikers

CRAP! Another Hobby · #1 03-24-2008, 12:45 AM

OK...bought 3 frags this weekend from a Calgary LFS...The frag tank they came from looked nice and clean. After getting the frags in our tank, I soon spotted a small white starfish coming out of a crack. It was less than the size of a dime. The other TWO frags each had some type of tentacles sticking out. They appear <1mm wide and have black bands and are responsive/interactive to touch.

Any ideas what the tentacles are from? Pest?

Is that cute little white starfish gunna be a pest?

hillbillyreefer · #2 03-24-2008, 01:41 AM

Not sure on the white one, the black bands are probably mini brittle stars and are good members of the clean up crew. Most people have them and they don't seem to cause trouble. Post up some pics and you should be able to get some advice from someone and a far more accurate identification.

CRAP! Another Hobby · #3 03-24-2008, 02:05 AM

Thanks hillbilly

My problem is that as I watched in awe at the speed of the little white guy...he disappeared down into my LR.

As for the wee tentacles...I am unable to get my digital camera to focus close enough to get a good pic.

If anyone has any pics of these two types of starfish, please post them (or a link to where there are good pics).

digital-audiophile · #4 03-24-2008, 02:09 AM

Sounds little little brittle stars, just about every aquacultured piece seems to have them.

Myka · #5 03-24-2008, 02:22 AM

Yep, those are mini brittle starfish. They stay tiny (unlike regular brittle starfish), and help out with detritus. They are good hitch hikers!

hillbillyreefer · #6 03-24-2008, 02:23 AM

http://www.nano-reef.com/invertebrates/
http://www.melevsreef.com/id/

I'd bet the two you have are both on the first page of the first link. If not try melevsreef.
Let us know if you need more sites.