Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Not Reef Tank Suitable
Not Suitable for Fish-Only Tank
Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean
Size: <1 inch (2.5 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits areas of heavy coral growth in shallow coastal areas.
Aquarium Suitability: This small Star, usually less than 1 inch (2 cm) seems to originally have come from Fiji on live rock. It's a predatory, hitchhiker star that eats sps, soft coral, and coralline algae.
Large bodied with short stubby arms and sometimes visible where aquarium side panels meet the substrate when the lights dim and/or hide under corals during day.
They divide across the main body with two or three legs of various lengths.
Even though there is some thought there might be 'safe' similar looking members in this family, I'd rather remove these stars as they quickly multiply!
Taxonomy:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Echinodermata
Class: Asteroidea
Order: Valvatida
Family: Asterinidae
Genus: Asterina
FYI: It is said the Nardoa species, such as N. rosea may consume these pests.
Also, the Harlequin shrimp Hymenocera elegans, will consume them.
