What kind of starfish is this?

Hey Everyone,

I have these little star fish in my RedSea tank and was wondering what they were? Are they reef safe? I've honestly be getting rid of them as they reproduce pretty quickly. My wife loves them though and wants me to put a couple in my 120.. Just not sure if that is a good idea.

Anyway. I know this is a bad picture- but they remind me of the star fish that you would see dried up in a dollar bin down at the shore.. they are a bone color.

 

Jesus, for the life of me I always forget the name of those things. Some say its safe and others say its not. I have them also and I never had an issue with them. Luna

 

I have a bunch also, the reason there legs are different sizes is they split into another starfish. I believe if there white they are safe its the ones that have color to them that are so pose to be bad.
you can check them out here:
http://www.chucksaddiction.com/hitchhikers.html

 

it always hard to tell with these little stars. general rule of thumb i go by is to simply watch its behaviours. if you find the star mainly on corals then start pulling them out but if the are mainly on the sand glass rocks etc.. then they are likely safe. " when in doubt pull it out"

 

asterina reef safe the biggest ive ever got one is a inch in diameter.

 

I don't have any in my 120 yet- should I keep it that way? The ones in my red sea are always on the glass and rocks. They are kinda cool looking and have always been a conversation piece when people look at my tank.. Not sure if that is good or bad... The hitch hiker is what people ask about!

 

I also have them. I mainly see them on the LR and glass. Mine all have a pink splotch in th middle of the top side. They stay small, about the diameter of a pencil eraser. I've never seen them on any of my LPS or softies. I don't have SPS so can't say if they like those. My kids absolutely love them.

 

thats about the biggest ive seen them to. as any body seen them bigger????

 

i don't believe asterinas get any bigger.




it is very rare to get a distructive species of them, i say keep them.