Linckia laevigata - Please note that while Linkia starfish come in a variety of colors, they are most likely of this species, but beware, identification of any starfish that appears to be a linkia is extremely hard for us to do. As such, if you do find a hitch hiking "linkia", it would be wise to keep an eye on it to determine if it is of a species that is reef safe or not.

         
                    Blue form                                                Red form 

      Linckia multiflora  -  While the below specimen is not a common coloration for this species, it is however an example of the many differing patterns and colors that the Linckia can be found in. Please see the above linked article concerning the Linckia family.

     

     Protoreastor nodosus - Commonly called the chocolate chip starfish. As with the majority of starfish, this family group is predatory and is not to be considered reef safe, consuming a wide variety of prey including corals and inverts, most notably clams. I would only keep this species as part of a fish only aquarium. They also come in a wide variety of colorations.  In the last photo shown below, a starfish extending its stomach to consume small shrimp that were fed to it.  This is how such starfish consume clams by forcing open the clam, however slightly, and injecting their stomach into the clam's shell to consume the clam's flesh while still inside its shell.

     
         
     Fromia Imdica

  

      Mithrodia clavigera  -  Nothing is known about these animals but it would be safe to assume that it would not do well within a typical aquarium as its food source is unknown.

     


     Asterina Anomal  - Typically a harmless herbivore, members of the Asterina family are all but impossible to identify down to a species level. Since as with most marine families, there are members whose diets vary greatly, which can lead to confusion as to which species is reef safe or not.  

       

     Unidentified Coral Predator - Found consuming an entire Lithophyllon coral colony within my system. While it seems that this species is a member of the Asterina family, it is a different species and not to be confused with the harmless Asterina species shown above.
 
     
   Below, yet another coral predator as it was found consuming a Pocillopora spp.
     


     Archaster typicus    The so called sand sifting starfish, please DO NOT buy them. They will starve to death.

      

     Echinaster luzonicus  ( predator )

     

     Acanthaster planci   (crown of thorns starfish)  Shown below is a 1cm juvenile

      

    Unknown at this time, possibly a Pentaster species.

     

    A Culcita species

     

     Crinoids   ( feather stars ) and please, do not buy one.

 

     Basket Starfish  -  All basket stars are feeders on, rather large, zooplankton that they catch with their divided arms. Most are nocturnal feeders, and they are often reclusive during the day. Generally, they are difficult to keep, requiring specific currents and relatively large amounts of food. The prognosis for this animal, if it is a hitchhiker, is not good in most tanks.
   Below specimen is a Gorgonocephalidae sp.
 
 


       
           Ophiarachna incrassata                           Ophioplocus imbricata                        Ophiarachnella gorgonia

       
            Yet to be identified                       A Juvenile Ophiomastix variabilis                  Ophiomastix variabilis

     
             Ophiarthrum elegans                            Ophiomastix annulosa                            Ophiolepis superba

     
           Ophiocoma erinaceus                          Ophiomastix caryophyllata                        Ophiarachnato sp.

      
            Acanthophiothrix sp.                                   Unidentified                                           Unidentified