Brittle Star

ken6217 · 01/02/2007, 09:07 AM

I have a 90 gallon reef tank with about 1/2" to 3/4" of sand, basically for asthetics. I have some pepperment shrimp and narrarius snails as well as a few emerald crabs. I wanted to get brittle stars as I don't think my sand is being gone through enough. Actually I think some of the snails were eaten by red legged hermits.

Whar brittle stars do I get and how many?

Thanks,
Ken

Navyblue · 01/02/2007, 09:42 AM

Brittle star doesn't stir your sand bed, it does eat poop though. IMO you should lose the hermit and stock back the nassarius if sand bed cleanliness is your major concern.

ken6217 · 01/02/2007, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Navyblue
Brittle star doesn't stir your sand bed, it does eat poop though. IMO you should lose the hermit and stock back the nassarius if sand bed cleanliness is your major concern.

I thought that they did, at least that is what I have read. What is your opinion of red legged hermits. Since they are mainly on the rocks, what do they eat that my turbo or astrea snails don't?

Thanks,
Ken

dc · 01/02/2007, 10:09 AM

I believe tigertail cukes are pretty decent for that. Just keep in mind, most anything you get to help clean the sand is eating the critters in the sand.

naterd1976 · 01/02/2007, 11:22 AM

Diamond goby will keep the sand clean, trust me. This is from personal experience. The only downside is they like to dump the sand in a specific area, thus he will create a pile of sand. Mine also seems to like to dribble sand over corals that are on the sand bed. It is a love hate relationship.

Wrench · 01/02/2007, 12:20 PM

Tiger tail cukes, diamond goby or nassarius snails will keep the top of the sand clean.

dwculp · 01/02/2007, 12:31 PM

Some other good sand stirrers and cleaners are:

1. Fighting Conch
2. Mini brittle stars. I have hundreds living in my sand bed. Get them from www.ipsf.com
3. Bristle worms, also from www.ipsf.com
4. Tiger tail cukes.

Tripspike · 01/02/2007, 01:17 PM

Fighting conchs are good. Bristle rooms, caution though if you keep clams on your sand bed.

Trip

evilsike · 01/02/2007, 02:15 PM

I have a sandsifting star. pretty good job at it.
I gave away my brittle star once it ate my cleaner shrimps. last one was witness by young kids being eaten

Tripspike · 01/02/2007, 02:37 PM

What type of brittle star? I have the brown brittles. I would tend to think the shrimp were already dead and the brits were doing their jobs. I also think that red leg and blue legs get a bad wrap for eating snails. The snails are most likely already dead and they are just cleaning up like they should.

Trip

01/02/2007, 09:07 AM	#1
ken6217 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NJ Posts: 2,179	Brittle Star I have a 90 gallon reef tank with about 1/2" to 3/4" of sand, basically for asthetics. I have some pepperment shrimp and narrarius snails as well as a few emerald crabs. I wanted to get brittle stars as I don't think my sand is being gone through enough. Actually I think some of the snails were eaten by red legged hermits. Whar brittle stars do I get and how many? Thanks, Ken

01/02/2007, 10:09 AM	#4
dc Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Wyoming Posts: 44,684	I believe tigertail cukes are pretty decent for that. Just keep in mind, most anything you get to help clean the sand is eating the critters in the sand. __________________ Debi ~60 Cube~ Why? Because I said so of course. -Sent via Tapatalk Smoke Signals-

01/02/2007, 12:31 PM	#7
dwculp Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Carrollton, TX Posts: 2,338	Some other good sand stirrers and cleaners are: 1. Fighting Conch 2. Mini brittle stars. I have hundreds living in my sand bed. Get them from www.ipsf.com 3. Bristle worms, also from www.ipsf.com 4. Tiger tail cukes. __________________ Remember, it will only get worse before it gets worse. Current Tank Info: 10 years - Currently have a 100 FOWLR

01/02/2007, 02:15 PM	#9
evilsike Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 427	I have a sandsifting star. pretty good job at it. I gave away my brittle star once it ate my cleaner shrimps. last one was witness by young kids being eaten __________________ All experts were once a beginner Current Tank Info: 46 Gal bow front, Aqua C 120, 10g sump w/ 6"x10" refuge, 5x39 T5, AC2, 2xmodded mj

01/02/2007, 09:42 AM	#2
Navyblue Low maintenance first Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 2,790	Brittle star doesn't stir your sand bed, it does eat poop though. IMO you should lose the hermit and stock back the nassarius if sand bed cleanliness is your major concern.

01/02/2007, 11:22 AM	#5
naterd1976 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Broken Arrow, OK Posts: 242	Diamond goby will keep the sand clean, trust me. This is from personal experience. The only downside is they like to dump the sand in a specific area, thus he will create a pile of sand. Mine also seems to like to dribble sand over corals that are on the sand bed. It is a love hate relationship.

01/02/2007, 12:20 PM	#6
Wrench Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 2,004	Tiger tail cukes, diamond goby or nassarius snails will keep the top of the sand clean.

01/02/2007, 01:17 PM	#8
Tripspike Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bristol, CT Posts: 875	Fighting conchs are good. Bristle rooms, caution though if you keep clams on your sand bed. Trip

01/02/2007, 02:37 PM	#10
Tripspike Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bristol, CT Posts: 875	What type of brittle star? I have the brown brittles. I would tend to think the shrimp were already dead and the brits were doing their jobs. I also think that red leg and blue legs get a bad wrap for eating snails. The snails are most likely already dead and they are just cleaning up like they should. Trip