Star Looking Thing on Gorgonian

[madrefkepr]

Hi,

I have an orange branching gorgonian, with a couple of what looked at first to be worms on a couple of branches, wrapped around pretty tight.

As I was typing this, I saw that one of them had moved out to the end of a branch, and was not wrapped very tight. I grabbed it with a tweezer, and found that it is not a worm, but maybe some kind of star. Never seen one like this, though. I haven't been able to tell how many arms, but the arms split into 2 about half way down. Total length of the arms is about 3/4 inch. Brownish red on top, and white on the bottom. Could someone tell me what they are, if they are harmful, and if they should be removed. Thanks!

 

[madrefkepr]

On closer examination:

Arms are banded, reddish color and dark brown. Has 6 full arms, and another appendage which may be a broken off 7th arm? Thanks.

 

[madrefkepr]

In case there may be some confusion, I should have said they look like a brittlestar. Have been searching the net, and can't find anything on one having 7 arms though.

 

[Anonymous]

Sounds exactly like a basket star to me, an echinoderm that lives communally with gorgonians....if you can keep the gorgonian alive the star will probably live too. It is completely harmless to the gorgonian. Is it a photosynthetic gorgonian?

 

[madrefkepr]

Thanks, Matt.

No, it is not a photosynthetic gorgonian. I know they don't have a very good record in captivity, but have talked to a couple of people who have kept the same ones for close to 2 years. Both recommended feeding Marine Snow.

 

[Anonymous]

I don't know your exact species (you should probably know this! ), but gorgs will probably benefit from some phytoplankton as well. I think Rob Toonen has written some articles on basket stars, you may want to search for them....

 

[fungia]

i have seen these tiny starfish on my gorgonian too. a different color i think mine were red and white banded but i was told they are normal. i am curious what these are too. my gorgonian does not mind them at all.

 

[Anonymous]

http://www.reefs.org/library/article/r_toonen17.html

Here ya go, a bit of info on feeding them and general care from Rob Toonen.

 

[Len]

Hey guys,

I actually think what's being described are Ophiothela spp. - tiny brittle stars that coil around branches of Gorgonians, feeding on their mucus. These guys are completely harmless and fairly common.

 

[Anonymous]

Can you snap a pic?

Len, he said the arms split in two which sounds more like a basket star to me....

 

[Len]

Ah, I missed that description. You're right, it does sound like a basketstar if that's the case.

 

[Len]

BTW, check them out at night. Basketstars are rather distinct and will extend their tentacles at night to snare planktonic life from water floating by. They have a feathery/basket appearance when expanded.

 

[Anonymous]

Here's one that looks a lot like a brittle star:
http://reefgarden.homestead.com/Basketstar.html

 

[madrefkepr]

Thanks Guys!

When I fed the tank before I went to bed last night, one of them grabbed some food as it floated buy. I hadn't really expected to see that.

I don't have a very good digital camera, its an older one, but I'll see what I can do about a pic tonight.

 

[Anonymous]

ONE of them? So there are more than one? I guess I missed that in your original post, sorry.

I think we need a pic before saying exactly what these are. As far as I know hitchhiker basket stars are fairly rare; two would be extraordinary.

 

[madrefkepr]

Yes, Matt, I believe there are 4 of them. I am at work now, but I know there are at least 3.

 

[Anonymous]

Well, I'm intrigued. Keep us filled in if you get a pic.

 

[madrefkepr]

Will do. A friend is going to try to stop by tonight with a better camera.

 

[madrefkepr]

Well, we tried and tried to get a better pic, but this is the best we could do. Hope this helps.

 

[Anonymous]

That's a great pic!

I really wish I could tell you what it is. Definitely some kind of echinoderm, but I don't know if it's a basket star or not.