What is this?

[wshfulthinkn]

I bought a candy cane yesterday and found a "starfish" attached to the candy cane. The "starfish" appears to love the candy cane. I think this might be a type of starfish, but it has soo many legs. I am hoping that someone will be able to ID this creature and tell me if it is reef safe. Thanks.

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[ralph atl]

without reseaching...it looks like a basket star...you should look into whether an experienced reefer or the Ga Aquarium will house this? It's beyond difficult to care for being a filter feeder, except for the most expert of keepers..

 

[peachyreef]

Way cool!!! its a crinoid starfish. Very hard to keep but also hardly seen. If you are going to attempt to keep it I would grab some plankton and marinesnow asap.

 

[darcurr]

mysterybox;638815 wrote: without reseaching...it looks like a basket star...you should look into whether an experienced reefer or the Ga Aquarium will house this? It's beyond difficult to care for being a filter feeder, except for the most expert of keepers..

+1

Difficult to keep due to feeding requirements to say the least. If you have a small tank or lack experience, you should consider finding the animal a new home for it's continued well being. Neat find.

P.S. a crinoid star is also called a feather star because it's appendages look like feathers. Very interesting critter, but not pictured here.

 

[wshfulthinkn]

Thanks everyone for helping ID this starfish. I fed it Phytoplanton and some blender mush. Hopefully it will do well.