help identifying starfish

[scott764]

there is a pic at http://www.phunk-e.com.au/fish.html Id love to know a bit more about it. What do they eat? What water conditions do they require?

 

[steve-s]

Hard to tell given it's location in the pic, it's blending in with the background of the rock. It look's alot like a Patiria miniata (bat star) at first glance but not if caught locally. Bat's AFAIK are not tropical species. There's a slim chance it could be a type of cushion star (Pentaceraster sp).

Where did you get it?

Can you post a pic where the background lends a bit of help in the definition of the stars shap and "more in focus". Be sure not to touch the star with your bare hands.

Cheers
Steve