Sea stars - how many is a good thing?

[Daddy-o]

I just cleaned out my filters and pulled off the sea stars you see in the photos. There are at least a dozen more in another bucket along a few more I did not get off the filter.

Question is - do I have an infestation in my tank? Or is this a good thing and I should dump them back in?

Also, just noticed they seem to like hanging out on the edge if the water in the bowl. Any idea why? Are they "beaching" themselves like whales?

 

[Mebbid]

From everything I've heard they aren't harmful to anything. I actually wish I had more in mine, I think they are neat If anything it is probably a population bloom, it will most likely work itself into a more normal number over time.

 

[54seaweed]

it can become a real pain in the butt I would get a harlequin shrimp to keep them under control