Hitchhiker id

[Mattb1612]

I have found 7 baby blue hitchhiking starfish in my tank. Can't determine which species it is or if there bad please advise.

[mr11]

They look like Asterina star fish to me. There are debates as to whether they are good or bad. I have them in my tank and don't plan to remove them. 

[madweazl]

They look like Asterina star fish to me. There are debates as to whether they are good or bad. I have them in my tank and don't plan to remove them. 

I agree with mr11 though I've never seen a blue one (always white in my experience). I've never had them bother anything but had them explode in numbers in one tank only to thin out to a few in short order.

Edited September 24, 2016 by madweazl

[Mattb1612]

Hmm okay sounds good does anything eat them

[mr11]

Harlequin shrimp eat them but make sure you have a rehoming plan if you get one. They'll starve once you run out of star fish

[Origami]

I'm having a heck of a time seeing anything in that photo. 

 

If it's in fact, Asterina, then try googling "Asterina zoas" and see what you come up with.

 

Asterina have been the subject of much debate for at least 15 years. The first article that I read was here at garf.org. I personally consider them a pest and remove them when I see them. But that's me. Others leave them to multiply. (And some have regretted later on doing the latter.)