A Many-Armed Sea Monster?

PootyTang · 10-24-2009, 02:23 PM

This is just a quick question to make me feel better. I recently discovered what appears to be a juvinile basket star in my 125 gallon. It hangs off a branching gorgonian all day and at night I see its arms spread out. Right now, its about an inch in diameter, but its grown about a half inch in a few weeks. The star is beige with pink stripes, although its tough to tell because of the small size and it has BRIGHT orange spots on its central disk. It is really a beautiful star, and I've never heard of a basket staying small so I imagine it will continue to grow so I wanted to confirm that there are not any species of basket (or similar looking stars to a basket- like a feather star) that could be harmful to my tank when it gets bigger.

cbrownfish · 10-24-2009, 03:40 PM

Basket stars do not typically survive well in our reef tanks but if it was a hitchhiker, I would probably leave it alone and see how it does. Posting a picture would help accurately identify the animal you have.

PootyTang · 10-24-2009, 05:37 PM

Finally managed to get a decent picture, its arms aren't out cuz the lights are on, but its the best way to see the colours

BigJay · 10-24-2009, 06:23 PM

can't help you with the ID but it sure is cool looking

Reefmack · 10-24-2009, 07:54 PM

This previous thread may be helpful - yours looks like the same or very similar star:

Gorgonocephalus sp?

Advanced Aquarist Photo Gallery Spotlight

PootyTang · 10-25-2009, 12:57 PM

So I think its probably the Gorgonocephalus like was in the other thread, just a wicked cool colour morph. I'm for sure going to leave it on there, since it has been on there for like 4 months and I don't see any problems with the gorgonian. If anyone has seen something like this, I'd love to get a more specific I.D.

lcstorc · 10-25-2009, 03:09 PM

I want one.
That is seriously cool looking and my gorg grows really quickly.

PootyTang · 10-25-2009, 05:58 PM

Any idea how big they get? I checked out the gorgonian today and I can't see a single head missing, though I'd be more than happy to feed it to him

nightfire76 · 10-25-2009, 07:59 PM

it is very kool,love to have one

Ssullivan · 10-26-2009, 07:31 AM

They get about 12-18" across, they are filter feeders they just hold on to the gorgonian, when they are big, they spend all day in a ball about the size of a baseball and at night feed, they look cool as hell when they get bigger becuse they are more branch-y

10-24-2009, 02:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
PootyTang Pistol Shrimp Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 253 View Gallery Karma Komment	A Many-Armed Sea Monster? This is just a quick question to make me feel better. I recently discovered what appears to be a juvinile basket star in my 125 gallon. It hangs off a branching gorgonian all day and at night I see its arms spread out. Right now, its about an inch in diameter, but its grown about a half inch in a few weeks. The star is beige with pink stripes, although its tough to tell because of the small size and it has BRIGHT orange spots on its central disk. It is really a beautiful star, and I've never heard of a basket staying small so I imagine it will continue to grow so I wanted to confirm that there are not any species of basket (or similar looking stars to a basket- like a feather star) that could be harmful to my tank when it gets bigger.

10-24-2009, 03:40 PM	#2 (permalink)
cbrownfish Reef Lobster Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 1,626 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: A Many-Armed Sea Monster? Basket stars do not typically survive well in our reef tanks but if it was a hitchhiker, I would probably leave it alone and see how it does. Posting a picture would help accurately identify the animal you have. __________________ *Confucius Say: "best way to save face, is to keep lower part of face shut".* CURRENT SET UP -- 90 gallon display, 30 gallon refugium, 6 gallon pod breeder, 100 gallon sump (complete with frag rack), 2X250 MH 14K DE HQI, Vortech MP40w and Koralia #4 for flow, 2X Tunze 9010 Skimmers, Sequence Dart return, 2X Ranco Controllers w/Titanium Heaters, 150 lb LR (90 in display, 60 in sump), 5" DSB, Mixed reef - Softies, LPS, SPS, Clams.

10-24-2009, 05:37 PM	#3 (permalink)
PootyTang Pistol Shrimp Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 253 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: A Many-Armed Sea Monster? Finally managed to get a decent picture, its arms aren't out cuz the lights are on, but its the best way to see the colours

10-24-2009, 06:23 PM	#4 (permalink)
BigJay Golden Moray Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: SW Florida Posts: 2,551 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: A Many-Armed Sea Monster? can't help you with the ID but it sure is cool looking __________________ Reefing off and on since '92 BigJay's Oceanic 90g bowfront chronicle See my pyrex products and target feeders here

10-24-2009, 07:54 PM	#5 (permalink)
Reefmack NaClH2O Addicted Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Charlotte, NC, USA Posts: 6,153 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: A Many-Armed Sea Monster? This previous thread may be helpful - yours looks like the same or very similar star: Gorgonocephalus sp? Advanced Aquarist Photo Gallery Spotlight __________________ aka Terry Excellence in reefkeeping is achieved by mastering the fundamentals, and learning from mistakes. No such thing as an evil crab. Only humans have the ability to be evil. "If you don't like what your fellow forum neighbors are doing, then don't pay so much attention to them" 34g Red Sea Max 130 (April 07), ~50-60 lbs. live rock, Aragonite substrate. Lighting: Current USA Outer Orbit Pro - 150W HQI, 2 x 24W Blue Plus T5 HO Fluorescent by ATI, 2 x 24W Super Actinic T5 HO Fluorescent by UVL, Vortech MP20, LifeReef RSM Siphon, EShopps RS-75 Sump, Euro-Reef custom sump skimmer, Simplicity media reactor, Tunze Osmolator ATO, ReefKeeper Lite L3 controller Reefmack's RSM 130 and...Red Sea Max Owners Club and My JBJ 6G in this thread[/color][/i]

10-25-2009, 12:57 PM	#6 (permalink)
PootyTang Pistol Shrimp Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 253 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: A Many-Armed Sea Monster? So I think its probably the Gorgonocephalus like was in the other thread, just a wicked cool colour morph. I'm for sure going to leave it on there, since it has been on there for like 4 months and I don't see any problems with the gorgonian. If anyone has seen something like this, I'd love to get a more specific I.D.

10-25-2009, 03:09 PM	#7 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 26,433 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: A Many-Armed Sea Monster? I want one. That is seriously cool looking and my gorg grows really quickly. __________________ Peace LYNN Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Lynn's frag tank experiment A reef tank is like a race car. The faster you go the harder you crash.

10-25-2009, 05:58 PM	#8 (permalink)
PootyTang Pistol Shrimp Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 253 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: A Many-Armed Sea Monster? Any idea how big they get? I checked out the gorgonian today and I can't see a single head missing, though I'd be more than happy to feed it to him

10-25-2009, 07:59 PM	#9 (permalink)
nightfire76 Neon dottyback Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: dickson,tn Posts: 693 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: A Many-Armed Sea Monster? it is very kool,love to have one __________________ follow me on my slow aquarium and tell me what ya think http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...res-55gal.html 55gal koralia 4 aquac remora/maxi jet 1200 marineland 400 bio-wheel 70ish lbs live sand 40ish lbs live rock 1 long spine brown urchin 2 blue leg hermits 1 feather duster 3 clams 1 mysterious cream color crab 150ish snails and many unknowns SAINTS 9 & 0 undefeated still,though the last 3 games were bad.....come on guys,get it together huh HAPPY REEFING

10-26-2009, 07:31 AM	#10 (permalink)
Ssullivan Tunicate Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Big Pine key Florida Posts: 19 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: A Many-Armed Sea Monster? They get about 12-18" across, they are filter feeders they just hold on to the gorgonian, when they are big, they spend all day in a ball about the size of a baseball and at night feed, they look cool as hell when they get bigger becuse they are more branch-y

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