Deformed Starfish...Asternia ??

[capj64]

I always try to find out what things are before posting and even though I think I found the answer to this one (dgpolit's thread) I'm still posting just to make sure I'm correct.

At first I always saw it on the back glass, very tiny. I thought that it was probably a stomatella snail since I had recently ID one being in my tank. Very cool, fast snail Anywho...just thought it was a small baby one of those.

But just a bit ago, I saw it on my front glass...still small but bigger than the last time I saw it.

 

[Jimbo7]

Correct, Asterina.
They propagate by splitting, and will often look like this and other crazy things right before/after a split. I love them, they keep glass so clean.

 

[neilanh]

Agreed, nothing to worry about

 

[capj64]

Groovy It has it's work cut out in my tank so I hope it splits soon, lol.

 

[Idaho-Tank]

In previous tanks I have never had them but in my current tank I have hundreds... they don't stay on the glass much in my tank - seem to prefer the rock.

 

[capj64]

Right now mine is riding on the back of a snail

 

[Jimbo7]

Check your tank at night, they usually are all over the glass then. They stay on the rocks during the day to camo themselves from predators.

 

[Idaho-Tank]

Check your tank at night, they usually are all over the glass then. They stay on the rocks during the day to camo themselves from predators.

Have several times actually... I only see maybe 2 or 3 at any time on the glass even at night. I guess mine are just partial to the rock

 

[Jimbo7]

Thats weird, you may just not have much growing on your glass yet that they want to eat.

 

[capj64]

I can't find mine now... but I'm sure he'll show up.

I think that I'm going to start a blog...stuff happens in my tank that I think is so freakin' cool but I can't get my family interested (even though it's supposed to be a family hobby) enough to listen and look and I don't want to add one thread after another. My friends think I'm nuts cause I talk about my tanks all the time I think my facebook has more pictures of my tank than my family, lol. Can't wait to see what I find next.

 

[melosu58]

Before long you`ll see them like this in the morning.

 

[Idaho-Tank]

....but I can't get my family interested (even though it's supposed to be a family hobby).....

I think thats common.. my family is "into" my tank... but not like I am. They laugh cause I can actually sit and stare into my refugium for long periods of time lol.

Oh and if you want some Asternias I would be happy to send you some if you pay shipping. I literally have 100 plus.

 

[capj64]

I may take you up on that. I'll see how fast mine splits first
lol, my husband says that he enjoys the tank...when I'm not sitting in front of it. I examine everything.