Teeny-Tiny Star hitchhiker on new LR

[dixiechicken82]

We are beginners and just got some live rock today and found a teeny-tiny pinkish-red starfish on it. It's probably smaller than a pencil eraser head. We have 4 damsels and 2 hermit crabs in the tank. From what I've read I don't think the star will be botherd by anyone...Right? And does the star need special care??
With it being sooooo tiny i don't think we can identify it, which i guess is okay for now, but it is so small that i'm afraid to touch it. My tiny fingertip is huge compared to it!! I know its alive b/c it's relocated since we've brought the LR home today. I know they eat meaty foods and I'm pretty sure you're supposed to feed them individually by hand or tongs, and I can understand doing this with a regular size star, but what do you do with a bitty one like this!

 

[Eelzor]

If its a small hitchhiker starfish on the live rock, it is just a scavenger and will scavenge on the live rock. They don't need to be fed anything direct. I found ten or more on my live rocks.

HTH

 

[Navarre]

Hi and welcome to the marine forum.

Not all starfish are carnivores. Some will eat algae, soe eat polyps Some eat left over food in the tank. Hand feeding is not necessary for any starfish as they are very adept at finding the food require.

Whether this starfish is safe to be in the tank or not depends on the type of tank you are going to have. If its going ot be a freef tank then it will need identifying to make sure its not a polyp munvher. IF you are having fish only then it should be fine but remember never to add copper treatments to the tank as this is highly toxic to inverts.

 

[dixiechicken82]

Thanks ya'll
Our tank is a 55 gal & we're gunna keep fish and a few crustaceans (my favorite part of the tank!) for now. We've only had the tank up as saltwater for 3-4 weeks, and so far all is well (minus 3 of the damsels killing one of its own!). I'm sure Jon will want to make it a reef tank one day, but we are sooooooo far from being ready for that! We aren't even sure what fish to get since learning that a great majority of the ones he wanted aren't suitable for us or our tank! So so so much more to learn! I just don't wanna hurt any of the animals in the process!
Does anyone know how fast the baby stars grow?

 

[Eelzor]

Does anyone know how fast the baby stars grow?

Actually I'd like to know that too. I'd say quite slowly, or some can even stay at that small size. Help on this one.

 

[Navarre]

without a positive id im afraid its very hard to estimate growth rates.

 

[Ed4567]

Could it be an Asterina starfish? These are tiny and are commonly found on liverock...

 

[ostrow]

If it's pink/red, that's a first for Asterinas as far as I know.