Whoa. Starfish?!?!

[-Nemo-]

I'm really freaked out right now

I've had my tank up 3 weeks now and just feed the inverts when i see these 3 legs come out towards a pellet of food. First thing i think, it looks like a starfish leg! I've seen 4 legs so far, stickin out to grab food. The tips are pink and the rest is a dark purplish color. Any help with an ID or even if it is a starfish? I don't know what else it could be really. Thanks Its not even worth taking a picture i think, becuase my camera would do it no justice.

Edit: the legs kinda look like this: http/www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Di....cfm?pCatId=735 Color wise, except the legs aren't stripped like that. IT seems to be either a kind of brittle or Serpent starfish from what i've seen so far.

 

[-Nemo-]

Still no clue what it is, but it has moved to the other side of the tank under another piece of rock, i can only see one leg now. I've been looking at the tank almost continuously today, and I can't believe i missed it moving

 

[enjoiskater158]

not sure exactly what it is but the most common starfish hitchhikers are serpent sea stars. How big is it and taking a picture will definatly help for getting an ID

 

[-Nemo-]

The only thing i ever see from it is the ends of its legs every so often, which are always in awkward places, so a picture would do no good because my camera sucks

Earlier, one leg i saw looked about 1 - 1 1/2 inches long.

EDIT: The rock its under right now is small, do you think i should lift it up, or just leave it alone?

 

[-Nemo-]

don't i feel silly

upon lifting up the rock i see not a starfish but a rather large bristle worm.
Note to self: Buy rubber gloves this weekend.

I'm disappointed I guess i'll be buying a starfish now cause i was so excited that i thought i had one

 

[Mr Miagi]

Careful with starfish in nano's, they can starve because lack of available food (things we cant supplement). Make sure you read a bit before hand, im sure you would anyway!

Sounded like a brittle star to me. Often this will be all you will see. They hide there large center underneath a rock or substrate, and extend there legs, so all you will see is 1-5 small little bristly legs poking around.