[Independently-needy]

i am cycling my tank and i noticed this thing that resembles a star fish but i am not sure if he will be harmful to my coral Xenia and Mushroom. Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thank you

[rlcline76]

I have one in each one of my tanks. Hides out in the rocks most of the day. I have not noticed any damage yet.

[glasta]

might be bad or might not hurt at all. i think there was a post just recently like this and i said it was bad because i saw a tank at em at a LFS and he said they can destroy a tank of corals, i dont know why he has a tank of em though.

[Independently-needy]

i took the pic. to a local coral supply place and they said they are not harmful but they reproduce like crazy and it is more simple to remove the one then to remove about 6 a week... and of course now i can't find him.

[thelastmucci]

I know nothing about starfish and coral but it sucks that you can't find it now. I would be a pain if you did have to start removing six in one week.

[cappy290]

I have those things in my tank also but i thought it wasent bad to keep them in the tank? I seem to see the same one everyday or so on my LR.

[anmacara103]

This starfish is pictured on the GARF web page and is said to eat SPS corals. It looks similar to your picture, but I am not sure if it is the same thing:
Geothermal Aquaculture Research Foundation Home Page
It is under the Aquarium Pests Menu on the left and is titled SPS Eating Starfish
I have a similar one or two in my aquariun and I haven't been too woried, none of my corals seem damaged.