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FAQs about Sea Star Identification 5
Related Articles: Sea Stars,
Brittle Stars, Asterina
Stars,
An Introduction to the Echinoderms: The Sea Stars, Sea
Urchins, Sea Cucumbers and More... By
James W. Fatherree, M.Sc.
Related FAQs: Sea Star ID 1,
Sea Star ID 2, Sea Star ID 3,
Sea Star ID 4, Seastar ID 6 &
CC Star Identification, Linckia
Identification,
Sandsifting Star ID, &
Sea Stars 1, Sea Stars 2,
Sea Stars 3, Sea Stars 4,
Sea Stars 5, Brittle Stars, Seastar
Selection, Seastar Compatibility,
Seastar Systems,
Seastar Behavior, Seastar
Feeding, Seastar Reproduction,
Seastar Disease,
Asterina Stars,
Chocolate Chip Stars, Crown of
Thorns Stars,
Fromia Stars, Linckia Stars,
Linckia Stars 2, Sand-Sifting Stars, | 
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Starfish question - 10/07/2007
Just wanted to know how rare it
was for a starfish in the Florida Keys to have 6 legs?
Thanks, Judy
<Not all that rare. Most starfish species have 5 arms, as you probably
know, but many have different numbers. The genus Solaster for example
typically has 10 arms. Many starfish will sometimes develop fewer or
more arms than normal if injured in some way, or genetically different
from the norm. So while finding a specimen of a normally 5-armed species
with 4 or 6 arms is quirky, it isn't all that unusual. Cheers, Neale>
Who's That Star? (Starfish ID) 7/21/07
Hey Scott...
<Hello again!>
Mich caught ya! Too funny! I'm sure she'll forgive
you, providing you do a lot of apologizing!!
<Yup...I can plead
my case well..LOL>
I was thinking the same thing and putting her
in the tank next week....let's be PERFECTLY clear, I'm speaking of
the coral beauty, not Mich.
<Yeah, Mich would be really
aggressive in such small quarters! Seriously, though, it sounds like
you're being very conservative and appropriate in with your caution.
I'm pretty confident that you'll have a great outcome with this
fish...Sure, nothing is 100%, but things sounds pretty good here.>
By the way, here is a pic of the mysterious starfish in a QT, any
idea what it is? I did a search on the web and had no luck. Because
it's more of an orange than a red I didn't think it was a Fromia.
It's doing very well, quite active.
<Well, Jennifer, I was so
tempted to just say that it is "an Orange Starfish", but that
wouldn't be too fun, huh? It does seem a lot like a Fromia...There
are a few colors, so that's not the most reliable indicator. Could
also be an Echinaster or Linckia species, but it's hard to be 100%
certain from the pic. I hope that you can locate a good information
source to get a positive ID. Nonetheless, if it's doing well, that's
a great sign! Good luck!>
Thanks again!! Jennifer
<My
pleasure! Regards, Scott F.>
Re: Starfish ID- Linckia, Fromia, Or...? – 09/22/07
Hey
Scott,
<Hey there!>
Mich in small quarters...you crack me up!
<And I scare myself sometimes, too! Yup, she might get a bit testy
if kept in a small space- I know that I would. I know that Eric R.
is capable of withstanding confinement just fine...Ask him about our
IMAC "road trip"!>
I believe the Coral Beauty is a go in a few
days.
<Good. I think that the fish should be fine!>
As for the
Starfish, you gave me a couple other ideas to search...I never
thought Linckia. It didn't look like one to me, but I'll check it
out.
<Worth a shot. I'm pretty bad at Echinoderm ID ("Ummm,
looks like a "red Starfish" to me..."), but it is a possibility>
What is the recommended amount of time to QT a starfish? I know the
normal time is 30 days, but since they are such sensitive critters
and there is no algae in the QT I didn't know if shortening the time
would be advisable. Thanks again Scott! Jennifer
<I'm a big fan
of four full weeks...Shorten only if you are convinced of the
animal's great health and are running low on available food in the
quarantine system. A full month is a great habit to develop; one
which will dramatically increase your success in the hobby, as you
have experienced! Good luck! Regards, Scott F.>
Re: Starfish ID- Linckia, Fromia, Or...? MichL – 09/22/07
Hey Scott,
<Hey there!>
Mich in small quarters...you crack me
up!
<And I scare myself sometimes, too!
<<Heehee! And others
as well! ;) Mich>>
Yup, she might get a bit testy if kept in a
small space-
<<I distinctly remember two rather cramped field
trips at IMAC, one the likes of "...yes sir mister officer" and I
don't recall being testy, perhaps a bit giggly and goofy, but not
testy. I'm generally not ornery! Mich>>
I know that I would.
<<As I recall Scott, you were pretty cramped too, but I don't
remember you complaining about that either! Mich>>
I know that
Eric R. is capable of withstanding confinement just fine...Ask him
about our IMAC "road trip"!>
<<He definitely had the worst of it!
Poor Eric, he was a pretzel, we love ya Eric, twisted or not...
Perhaps twisted is more fun though! Heehee! Mich>>
I believe the
Coral Beauty is a go in a few days.
<Good. I think that the fish
should be fine!>
As for the Starfish, you gave me a couple other
ideas to search...I never thought Linckia. It didn't look like one
to me, but I'll check it out.
<Worth a shot. I'm pretty bad at
Echinoderm ID ("Ummm, looks like a "red Starfish" to me..."),
<<Heehee! Very helpful there Scottie! Mich>>
but it is a
possibility>
What is the recommended amount of time to QT a
starfish? I know the normal time is 30 days, but since they are such
sensitive critters and there is no algae in the QT I didn't know if
shortening the time would be advisable. Thanks again Scott! Jennifer
<I'm a big fan of four full weeks...Shorten only if you are
convinced of the animal's great health and are running low on
available food in the quarantine system. A full month is a great
habit to develop; one which will dramatically increase your success
in the hobby, as you have experienced! Good luck! Regards, Scott F.>
Starfish ID- Mystery Solved! – 09/23/07
Dear Mr. Fellman,
<Yikes! So formal- just "Scott" is fine! >
Just wanted to let you
know that you sell yourself a little short. Your guess of an Orange
Starfish, an Echinaster, was correct. It's technical name is a
Echinaster spinulosus. This link is a great resource for echinoderm
id. http://oceanica.cofc.edu/TRCH-Echinos/web_Seastars/page05.htm He
seems to being doing just great so far...he's an active little
bugger. We'll wait the usual 30 days in QT. Thanks for putting my
mind at ease so I can sleep at night!! Jennifer
<Well, as my
friend Anthony Calfo is fond of saying, "Even a blind squirrel finds
a nut sometimes!" In all seriousness, I'm glad that you made a
positive ID on the specimen. Thank you very much for sharing the
link that you found with our readers! Best of luck and enjoy your
new friend! Regards, Scott F.> | 
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Tiny white starfish on my glass? Yes, An Asterina Star – 09/08/07
Hi,
<Hi Mandy, Mich here.>
I've read about the tiny brownish
Starfish with the shorter two legs that eats corals, but mine is white.
Can you tell me is it safe to keep?
<In my opinion, yes.>
I only
have one so far as I can tell.
<You likely have more.>
I just saw
it tonight when I turned off the lights and the moonlights were the only
lights on. It is very, very tiny. About 1/4 of an inch? Here is a
picture of it, up close and from a distance so you can get perspective.
Little black sand snail on top, and Turbo below. It appears to be a
fuzzy starfish? Next picture is a close up, it was hard because the
camera got it blurry most of the time. But it appears to have fuzzy legs
and then tentacles at the ends of its legs? I can certainly see its
mouth! Thanks for any help identifying it. I'd hate to have to kill it!
But I don't want it to eat my only coral either!
<Is an Asterina
Star. You can see similar photos here and read a little more about these
little guys: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/asterinafaqs.htm
Mandy
<Mandy I noticed your NJ area code. I was hoping I might encourage you
to come out to The 2007 Fall Frag Swap & Symposium, Saturday October 27,
2007, 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM at the Crowne Plaza, 390 Forsgate Drive
Jamesburg, NJ 08831, sponsored by the NJ Reefers Club. WWM's Scott
Fellman will be one of the featured speakers. More info here:
http://www.njreefers.org/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=44&Itemid=1
> |
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Starfish ID? 8/16/07
Greetings crew,
<David>
Hope all is
well. I need your help to ID the starfish in the attached picture.
Are they reef-safe? Any special needs to keep them?
Thanks for your
time.
David Guzman
<Don't see this in my usual "pet-fish" and
dive ref.s... Can you tell me/us about where these hail from? Any clues
as in common names? Bob Fenner>
Re: Starfish ID? 8/16/07
I found them on some bay flats on
the gulf side of florida. I've also seen them on oyster beds.
<Is/are
these off-colored Echinaster spinulosus? Did you collect them? Are they
more orange colored in the sea? Bob Fenner>
Re: Starfish ID? – 08/17/07
Yeah, they are very much more orange
in the sea! How did you know? What is the color change due to?
<Mmm,
stress in a word... change in environment, nutrition>
I collected
them, photographed them, and acclimated them into my tanks. I've watched
them crawl all over Asterinas and polyps and not be interested in a
single bite (so far). Any advice on them?
<To keep your eye on
them... Likely largely detritivorous as nutrition types... but might die
suddenly, pollute your system>
Thanks for your help.
David
<Welcome. BobF> | 
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Starfish identification... Asterina – 06/14/07
Gentlemen,
<A
lady with you today.>
I was hoping that you can help me identify this
particular starfish and whether they are safe to have in my reef tank.
<You have an Asterina Star. Some say these stars can be deleterious to
zoanthids, but I have never observed this with zoanthids and these stars
in my system. More here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/asterinafaqs.htm
>
I currently have 4 of them.
<Hee! That you see!>
Thanks.
<Welcome!>
I really appreciate all that you guys and gals do for this
hobby. It has helped me keep my 75 gallon reef perfect. Thank you!!
<Wonderful to hear! Mich> | 
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Starfish ID...Linckia multifora, the Comet Star – 05/16/07
Hi
Bob,
<<Tis Eric with you today...>>
I inherited a starfish on a
coral for my reef tank.
<<Neat>>
Only suspected it was a star as
it didn't show much of itself (1st pic).
<<Mmm, indeed...not exactly
“starfish” looking from this angle>>
I moved the coral yesterday and
got the full pic - slightly out of focus!
<<...but more telling>>
It seems to just take up residence under a coral and not move apart from
sticking a leg out. Wondered if you had any idea what kind it might be,
as I know there are some coral eaters.
<<Not the issue here...at
least not a threat to other than “emergent” organisms...though no more
than the snails and less than the hermit crabs in your tank. This looks
to be a Comet Star, a Linckia species...L. multifora. Not as brightly
colored as those most often seen/photographed, but as far as I can tell
from the photo the morphology and markings are definitely representative
of the species. As with others of this genus, it will require “lots” of
live rock upon which to graze/browse for food>>
Thanks, Linda
Cassidy
<<Quite welcome. Eric Russell>> |
Re: Starfish ID...Linckia Multifora, the Comet Star - 05/16/07
Thank you so much!
<<Very welcome>>
I will now treasure it
instead of fearing it.
Linda
<<Ha, Indeed! Do enjoy your
new found friend. EricR>> |  
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Sea Star Help...but what kind? 4/26/07
Hello,
<Hi.>
I'll start off with some specs:
<Okay.>
29 Gallon FOWLR
<A
bit cramped for most sea-stars.>
30lbs Live rock
My levels are:
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 10 ppm
<Needs to be lower.>
S. Gravity: 1.022
<Needs to be higher for invertebrate life...1.024
at least.>
pH: 8.2
I purchased a red sea star from
LiveAquaria.com the other day and received it yesterday.
<What
species?>
After about an hour of drip acclimating it, I
finally decided it was ready to be put into the tank.
<No quarantine?.. and I prefer to acclimate seastars longer, they are
very sensitive to differences in water quality.>
Everything seemed
well, but when I woke up this morning it looks as if all its insides
have come out.
<Not good.>
I looked up the articles on starfish
but I really didn't know what to search for with this. It is still
alive and moving, but why has everything "fallen" out of it?
<Hard to say without knowing what species this is...>
Its only
tankmates are a Percula Clown and a Serpent Sea Star which hasn't even
come near it as far as I can see, it tends to stay in its cave at the
complete opposite side of the tank. Is this normal?
<See above
comment^^.>
I'm rather new to the hobby and my tank is only about 6
months old, but it doesn't seem like something that would be normal for
anything, to have its guts fall out.
<Good be a reaction
to the shift in water quality; I would like to give you a more detailed
answer but first shoot me a response with the species
(Latin/scientific...if you have it) name. Should be on the LiveAquaria
site or on your invoice.>
Thank you,
Brittani
<Adam J.>
Batik Star? 4/22/07
Dear Crew,
I just came back from
the LFS with my new star. I never bought anything for the tank
without my husband's guidance, but I was swayed into buying it for
it's beautiful color and pattern. The LFS owner told me it would
scavenge and would be OK in my FOWLR tank. My tank is 210 gal. I
came home and Googled batik starfish and came up with nothing.
<Me neither... nor have I heard this common name before...>
The picture I've attached is in the bucket where it's being
acclimated.
<Oh! Is a Fromia... Please see here:
http://wetwebmedia.com/seastars.htm
And a comment... I would
not acclimate the Anemone with these others>
It will then go
into a small quarantine tank for several weeks (alone). Since it
will have nothing to scavenge, any ideas for diet?
<See the
Net/WWM re the genus>
Any ideas what kind of star this is? It's
smooth, not knobby and under the lights in the store it was pink
with brown; in natural light it's more peach with brown. The tank
where it was kept in the store (since last Thurs) had coral frags,
another star and some Tridacna clams so I assume this star won't be
a holy terror in our tank. Thanks for any help you can give
me. Also, I promise I won't buy anything else without knowing
exactly what it is:)
Kris
<I strongly encourage you to
investigate before buying... dangerous to approach stocking in any
other way. Bob Fenner> | 
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