Starfish

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
ive had my tank set up as a marine for a few weeks now (raised SG about 0.002 per week from 1.010SG), i got my live rock cured from from a lad about 1 hr from me.

i put the rock in and expected some critters to come out. a red leg hermit, some snails. and about 40 starfish.

i need help to identify them. the majority are only 2-4mm across at the moment so a pic is damn near impossible. they are blue in colour and the legs are thick set, not thin like a brittle star. with darker blue on the top of the legs and body.

there is another one about 1.5cm that is cream coloured with orange hi-lights on the legs. will try to get a pic from that one when it comes out.

they all seem to be grazing on the rock too. but it could be because there is nothing meaty to scavenge on in the tank.

any ideas from my very vauge descriptions. at least then i can get some info to see if i stand a chance at keeping them. i doubt it though with what has been posted though.
 
heres some pics. not good quality, but the best i can do.

1st of the blue starfish. it is there...
2nd of the bigger one.

DSC00549.JPG

DSC00548.JPG
 
bromie88;2443442; said:
heres some pics. not good quality, but the best i can do.

1st of the blue starfish. it is there...
2nd of the bigger one.

use a magnifying glass in front of the lens. it works wonders photographing small things!
 
the second one looks like an asterna.. i can't see the first
 
ok thanks. i think the smaller ones will just be the same as the larger one. googled asternia and basically found out that they dont get very big, and some may eat coral. it also says that its difficult to identify a particular speicies on colour alone, but at least i know the type. so i can guess what im dealing with.

thanks
 
the small little hitchiker asterinas i've never heard of people having problems with them other than they reporduce too fast... but if that happens just get a harlequin shrimp, lol
 
BIGgourami;2446598; said:
the small little hitchiker asterinas i've never heard of people having problems with them other than they reporduce too fast... but if that happens just get a harlequin shrimp, lol

i doubt that would work for me... i have a Green spotted puffer, so i dont think it would last long. dont wanna risk £13 worth of shrimp with a puffer fish. :) he hasnt touched the corals/critters that have sprung up from my rock, yet, but me thinks a shimp would be pushing it.
 
Out of all curiousity why would you have your salinity at 1.010?????? That is brackish conditions. Not marine by any stretch. Recommended SG would be at 1.023-1.024 that would be marine conditions.
What type of fish do you have in there? Unless you were planning on acclimating certain fish like monos or green spotted puffers there should be no reason to have your salinity that low.
 
skene;2461509; said:
Out of all curiousity why would you have your salinity at 1.010?????? That is brackish conditions. Not marine by any stretch. Recommended SG would be at 1.023-1.024 that would be marine conditions.
What type of fish do you have in there? Unless you were planning on acclimating certain fish like monos or green spotted puffers there should be no reason to have your salinity that low.

:ROFL: i love people that dont read before they post... it said it was raised FROM 1.010 to marine conditions. :screwy:
 
MonsterFishKeepers.com