Dangerous Starfish?

[YankeeReef]

About six months ago I lost a bubble coral, by a gradual shrinking starting on one side. When I finally gave up and got rid of it, I noticed what appeared to be a couple of worms in the skeleton.

Recently I added a new bubble to the tank, and noticed similar "worms" that appeared to be reaching out of one of my pieces of LR towards the coral. As I had observed them occasionally sticking out of only this piece of live rock for a while, I took it out and rinsed it in fresh water. Immediately two starfish died and came out in the sink. The worms I saw were actually their rays. The star is about 1.25 inches across, and appears to be a very dark green color, with thin white bands around the rays.



Anyone know what they are?

[bigfoot]

looks like a brittle star to me do they eat corals though?

[Ocean Singer]

yup, that's a brittle star, and I've never heard of one eating coral...

[YankeeReef]

Could be coincidence, but they were definitely present when the other bubble was gradually dying, and really looked like they were reaching for the new bubble. After I moved the new bubble, they stopped reaching.

Either way, I think I got them all out of that rock and the bubble's doing great.

[Doctor_Reef]

Brittle stars are usually very good for you tank...I think there was some other reason the bubble didn't do well...

[Sugar Magnolia]

If the bubble was dying, the star was just taking care of clean up.

[YankeeReef]

That seems to make sense. Thanks Sugar Mag!