old starfish, or new Hitchhiker?

[starfire2116]

I had a Sandshifter starfish about 5 or 6 months ago, and I thought it died. but now I find this.

Or is the a hitchhiker? it just sits on the rocks. then disappears a day later just to show up again, some days later. I see it mostly at night. about an hr. before the light goes out.
The colors I see on it is mostly white right now. And black maybe some grey. there is red or orange line markings along its arm. more so on the larger arm. the tips of the arms are turned up like a Sanshifter Starfish.

 

[MaxTremors]

Hitchhiker, harmless. Aquilonastra (the artist formerly known as ‘Asterina’). Some people say that they eat corals, I’ve never experienced this in 20+ years, and I’ve had 3-5 different species, I’ve also never seen anyone else provide any proof that they actually eat corals. They can get out of control if you’re over feeding or let nutrients get out of control. But, IME, the are harmless, eat algae, and are a good addition to your CuC (they can get into areas/crevices that other algae eaters can’t.

 

[starfire2116]

Hitchhiker, harmless. Aquilonastra (the artist formerly known as ‘Asterina’). Some people say that they eat corals, I’ve never experienced this in 20+ years, and I’ve had 3-5 different species, I’ve also never seen anyone else provide any proof that they actually eat corals. They can get out of control if you’re over feeding or let nutrients get out of control. But, IME, the are harmless, eat algae, and are a good addition to your CuC (they can get into areas/crevices that other algae eaters can’t.

Well its been Some time, and I agree with them. They do eat corals. Ate all my neon green/pink cloves. And killed my phasmo I have Been picking Them out for 3 months now. And everything Is doing better in the tank . I'll see maybe one every Few weeks and I'll snag it up out of the tank.

 

[tbrown3589]

View attachment 2466023View attachment 2466024
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I had a Sandshifter starfish about 5 or 6 months ago, and I thought it died. but now I find this.

Or is the a hitchhiker? it just sits on the rocks. then disappears a day later just to show up again, some days later. I see it mostly at night. about an hr. before the light goes out.
The colors I see on it is mostly white right now. And black maybe some grey. there is red or orange line markings along its arm. more so on the larger arm. the tips of the arms are turned up like a Sanshifter Starfish.

Hitchhiker. Common. They can be a pest but most are considered reef safe just usually end up with massive populations.

 

[tbrown3589]

Ooops. Sorry, just realized this was an old post. You got one of the non-reef safe ones. Sorry to hear that

 

[vetteguy53081]

View attachment 2466023View attachment 2466024
View attachment 2466032
I had a Sandshifter starfish about 5 or 6 months ago, and I thought it died. but now I find this.

Or is the a hitchhiker? it just sits on the rocks. then disappears a day later just to show up again, some days later. I see it mostly at night. about an hr. before the light goes out.
The colors I see on it is mostly white right now. And black maybe some grey. there is red or orange line markings along its arm. more so on the larger arm. the tips of the arms are turned up like a Sanshifter Starfish.

Pull it and chuck it. I had two eat an entire colony of bam bam zoa and this looks very alive