Two Baby Starfish!! How is this Possible?

[paddyob]

Originally Posted by SeaHorse_Fanatic

Those are probably Asterina starfish. ie. harmless hitchhikers. They are in most reef tanks. I have dozens if not hundreds.

Originally Posted by FishyFishy!

This is what Asterina's look like. Harmless in small numbers. Tonnes of tanks have them.

Not harmless. I let them outa control once. Had 1000s. Killed all my zoos.

[Evilweevil]

Every time that my zoas have been closed for a couple days I used to dip them and sure enough one or two of those guys would come out

[FishyFishy!]

Originally Posted by paddyob

Not harmless. I let them outa control once. Had 1000s. Killed all my zoos.

Thats why I said harmless in small numbers there slugger!

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

I've never had mine reach "plague" numbers and almost always see a few to a few dozen on the glass. I must have the algae-eating variety, since never found them to pose any danger to my zoas or other corals [knock on wood]

Anything that gets into the 1000s in our tanks would cause a major problem I would imagine. A few bristleworms, good for scavenging uneaten foods. Thousands of them make touching anything in your tank a major hazard. Even certain types of corals. I love pulsing xenia but if they reach into the 1000s, then they are a weed that smother everything else and turns your tank "brown".

As with most things in life, moderation is better than overwhelming amounts.

Anthony

[LeanneP]

Thanks for all the input. I hate to kill them. They are so cute! But don't really want them to over take my tank either.

[LoJack]

There are two different species of asterina's if you research them further.

From what I've read, the 5 legged variety are perfectly reef safe.

The 6 legged versions are your zoa and star polyp eaters

[Aysha]

When two starfish love each other a whole bunch...

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by LeanneP

Thanks for all the input. I hate to kill them. They are so cute! But don't really want them to over take my tank either.

My approach with anything is leave it alone unless it becomes a problem. They're not real fast, so if you have to remove them, it's easy enough. I have hundreds of them, never an issue.

[kien]

My kids and I love those little starfish! Sometimes you find odd ball ones with 3 legs or 7 legs! They're fun like that. Plus there's always an endless supply of them, unlike the larger starfish.

[paddyob]

Originally Posted by FishyFishy!

Thats why I said harmless in small numbers there slugger!

It was a multi quote.