WHAT is it 1? 2? 3?

[rbredding]

I don't have any "pocket reference" type books to look this stuff up and I'm not sure what i should really be searching for on the internet...


I've got three unknowns... one is shown from two angles and has a yellow box, the others have green boxes and red boxes around them..


the yellow box is a creature that moves similarly to a starfish (and looks like two of the legs of a starfish, actually)

the red box item looks like a milky spider web and it's in several places on the live rock

what do y'all think?
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[myvwrock]

Sponge???

 

[rbredding]

dunno...

I'm not sure if it looks like what it's supposed to look like... lol

it DOES have little feeding tentacles that come off it by about a quarter inch....

 

[jennm]

The first one is an Asterina star. They reproduce by fission (splitting) so it's no unusual to see them with some short legs, and some long legs. Most of them are harmless bacterial/algal film feeders. There is a specie that is harmful to coral, but I've only ever seen it in a book (and it has some red in it). Odds are that yours is harmless.

Some folks end up with an overpopulation of them, and some wrasses and/or Harlequin shrimp can cull the population. For most, they don't become that much of an issue.

The thing in the green box is a sponge. No concerns with this IMO. Filter feeds.

Stuff in the red box looks like sponge to me too (different type than in the green box). Hard to say for sure - but that's what I think it is. Also harmless.

Jenn

 

[acroholic]

JennM;387558 wrote: The first one is an Asterina star. They reproduce by fission (splitting) so it's no unusual to see them with some short legs, and some long legs. Most of them are harmless bacterial/algal film feeders. There is a specie that is harmful to coral, but I've only ever seen it in a book (and it has some red in it). Odds are that yours is harmless.

Some folks end up with an overpopulation of them, and some wrasses and/or Harlequin shrimp can cull the population. For most, they don't become that much of an issue.

The thing in the green box is a sponge. No concerns with this IMO. Filter feeds.

Stuff in the red box looks like sponge to me too (different type than in the green box). Hard to say for sure - but that's what I think it is. Also harmless.

Jenn

Jenn....what about blue asterinas? Several members here swear they eat zoas?

 

[jennm]

Well, I'll absolutely defer to anyone who has seen firsthand that they eat anything.

I have them in my system (some people actually ask for them), and I've never witnessed any destructive behavior by them, and I have lots of zoas in my system.

The ones I have are tan - some folks think they are "baby" sand sifting stars, but they are not, even though their color is somewhat similar.

In, "Invertebrates, A Quick Reference Guide" by Julian Sprung, page 201 there are photos of different Asterina species. The ones with blue also have some red - so perhaps that's the same specie you are referring to, David. And yes, in that volume they are showing them feeding on the remains of some coral tissue on a skeleton, so it's reasonable to say they are a threat.

The ones I typically see are just a tan color, and they cruise the rock and glass, but I've never had them do any damage.

Jenn

 

[drnecropolis]

LoL!! You guys want to see some who eat coral? I have more than enough.. They have eaten through most of my gsp.. I can snap a pic right now and there will be no less than 10-15 on there having breakfast.. I also had them eat 1 solar paly and about 15 AOG polyps..

 

[jennm]

DrN, are yours just tan, or tan with blue and/or red?

Jenn

 

[drnecropolis]

Some are a whiteish tan.. They cruise the glass.. Others that I have problems with are a dark tan/greenish/blueish.. Maybe specks of red here and there..

 

[jennm]

Sounds like you have both species then. Your personal experience supports what the book says.

Jenn

 

[drnecropolis]

What does the book say? Starts as normal and turns into coral eater then werewolves? Jeez I hope not.. Don't have enough silver for all of them!

 

[jennm]

LOL no. There are different species of Asterina. The plain tan ones are reported to be harmless, and that's been my experience.

The more colorful ones (tan with red and/or blue) are the coral munchers.

Passage from p. 201 Invertebrates: A Quick Reference Guide (Sprung)

Asterina

Common Name: Asterina

Region: Circumtropical

Description: Very small sea star, some only 1/4 inch in diameter, others up to about 1 inch. Three species are commonly imported with live rock. A small whitish Asterina sp. feeds on algae on the aquarium glass. Other larger species may sometimes feed on coral tissue and are dangerous in a reef aquarium because they proliferate rapidly by fission.

Similar: None

Desirable/undesirable features: May become destructive or harmful to corals. Some species are reef safe. They may be utilized for food for Hymenocera sp. shrimp.

Food: Herbivorous. Some eat coral tissue.

Special Considerations: Monitor them to be sure they don't eat corals.

Hardiness in Captivity: Hardy. Reproduce prolifically. Life span - years.

 

[drnecropolis]

Yeah.. Atleast they are not zombies or werewolves.. I remove ALL types everyday, if they are within reach they come out.. The most I have been able to remove at one sitting was around 45..

 

[rbredding]

I hate warewolves... you can never find silver bullets when you need them... they certainly aren't like vampires... hell, everyone's got garlic in the kitchen and a cross somewhere...



I didn't mention that these are in my new quarantine tank/lil b's tank....
Good to know that they are filter feaders or "cleanup" feeders...

thank you Jenn... !