I Have A Starfish!!!!

So I was looking at my aquarium today just checking it out when I noticed this little thing attached to one of my live rocks. It was there a few days ago too but asn't yesterday. Its gray and appeared to have 5 or so legs on it. I thought nothing of it then I looked again and thought it was but wasn't sure unless it moved.... Well... IT MOVED!!!! Its so TINY that I just wasn't sure. My first official hitch-hiker!! Not sure what kind of starfish it could be until it gets a little bigger. When I say tiny, its tiny...smaller than a dime right now I'm so excited.;D

 

a photo would help but i think u most likely have an astrea (sp?) star. alot of people think they are a nuisance but i have them in my tank and they do no harm

 

I can't right now as he is half in hiding now. I can barely see the little guy but once he comes back out I will. I'm not too worried about him as he is the only anything in there at the moment.

 

Probably one of the smaller varieties of the brittle stars. The asternia stars are usually white/off white and do not have grey/white/black alternating bands on their legs.

Also, asternia sp.'s also have varying number of legs. The brittles ( I am pretty sure) only ever have 5.

So congrats on finding that hitchhiker!!! I have many in my tanks and they are always cool to watch!

 

http://www.mitchellspublications.com/guides/shells/articles/0078/01-image.jpg

That look like what you have in your tank!?

If so you are the proud mother of a brittle or serpent star.

 

The link didn't work but I'm pretty sure the little guy has more than 5 legs.

 

Brittles can have 5 or 6.

Asternia can have odd numbers of legs. All are different.

 

did it look like either of these?

 

He looked to be a little more "solid" to be a brittle. Baby brittles have legs that kind look stringy, his weren't. Once I get a better look at him then I can figure it out.

 

He looks like the first except on a rock