Destined for the tank or Freezer? ID Please! :)

[Anonymous]

I was given a couple of these "reef safe" starfish.... I have read about similar sounding ones eating you rpolyps.. The guy who gave me these had a TON all over his rock and glass. He also didnt have any corals and such so he wouldnt know if they truly were reef safe. He assured me they were but Im not to sure.... So are these little buggers destined for the freezer or the tank??

Thanks!

Lexi

 

[Anonymous]

It's an Asterina sp. star. Most likely completely harmless.

 

[Anonymous]

yeah thats a keeper...shouldnt get big at all

 

[Anonymous]

Thank ya much!


Lexi

 

[romunov]

Only one way to find out.

I've seen a coral eating starfish, that is quite similar to Asterina, however, the specimen I saw was at least two times larger than an "average" Asterina I've seen. They were similar in shape and color, though. It is not known how many species of Asterina are there.

The fact that they reproduced in his tank mean;
they don't prey on corals specifically,
or,
they don't care for corals and are just fine.

 

[nazzy_016]

Nothing to be worried about, i have a whitish one and its been dealing with my polyps and mushrooms just fine, does more good than bad and just stays on the glass for me.

 

[Anonymous]

I've seen a coral eating starfish, that is quite similar to Asterina

its called a chocolate chip starfish protoreaster nodosus
:wink:

 

[romunov]

its called a chocolate chip starfish protoreaster nodosus

I am not convinced.
They may perhaps be juveniles, however I doubt it.
I had the opportunity to take one from a LFS and stick it into some alcohol, but for some reason I didn't. Grrr.

 

[nice1bruva]

cant help with the id,but either way the freezer is not a good way to euthanise any animal/invert as it will only get a slow painfull death.
i used to believe this was the best way also untill a local vet who specialises in aquatics advised me.

 

[RobertoVespucci]

Ok, so what did the vet advise you?

 

[Anonymous]

I'm not convinced that Starfish have the aparatus neccessary to feel pain.

There are Coral munching Asterina. They are not uncommon but they are less common than the ones that do not eat coral.

 

[Anonymous]

Ok, so what did the vet advise you?

Take a hammer to it. Is that quick enough? :lol:

~wings~

 

[Anonymous]

What about the poor hammer? It'll need therapy after something like that.

 

[Anonymous]

"Hammers don't kill stars, people do!" :lol:

~wings~