Reefs.org Forums

[pmcg2513]

Just noticed 1/4+ inch thing climbing rock. It was white, top 3 arms longer then bottom 3 arms. Otherwise looked like a star, ???Any idea what this is?

He got up and over rock before I could get a camera and hasn't been sighted since.

Thanks for any help.

[ophiuroid]

So it looked like a star...a brittlestar or a starfish? There are 6 armed brittlestars (genus Ophiactis)in that size range that reproduce by splitting, so that three arms are shorter than the others. How did the arms move? With a rowing type motion?

--------------------
[img]images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]Brittlestars!! http://home.att.net/~ophiuroid
--------------------

[ May 25, 2001: Message edited by: ophiuroid ]

[pmcg2513]

Ophiuroid..Thanks for reply. Seemed like front arm moved most then second & third. Bottom three seem to drag. Doesn't look like star fish. Just weird to newbee.

[ophiuroid]

Perhaps you could describe it a bit more? It sounds kind of like it moves like a brittlestar (first arm leading, two on side 'rowing' a bit and others just kind of dragging behind), which sometimes make a move to a different whole in the rock. Was there a distinct central area to the animal? Was it flat? Were there spines? Coloration? Hopefully we can figure out what it was!

------------------------
Brittlestars!!! [img]images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] http://home.att.net/~ophiuroid
------------------------

[pmcg2513]

ophiuroid: Thanks. Looked at brittlestars site. This didn't have long skinny arms or legs. Much more like true star fish except had 6 arms. Sounds like you mentioned. Front arm pulling, other two kind of rowing and little back 3 arms dragging. There was a distinct central area and all appeared to be flat. Didn't see any spines..but it was gone before I got magifing glass. It really appeared to be pure white. Been looking and haven't seen it again. Is this another hitchhicker? Is it good, bad or indifferent? Gosh, wish I got picture! Thanks again.

[some'n'smellsfishy]

i have the same things think they are ministars. i have dozens they get on my back glass and eat the algae off. they don't seem to harm anything

[pmcg2513]

some'n'smellsfishy..Thanks. Glad to know they shouldn't be harmfull.

This mini star just showed himself again last night on front of tank. So, I could see bottom and it sure looks like some kind of star fish. This morning it was hitching a ride on a snail. I thought stars had 5 arms..this one has six.

Do you know how big they can get?

[some'n'smellsfishy]

haven't had my tank for long (3months) but haven't seen any bigger than the tip of my pinky. [img]images/smiles/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img] i figured same thing about 5 legs when i first saw them but....we all know there are MANY creatures in the ocean

[tangirl]

Found one in my tank today with 7 arms. They stay small.