Small brittle star

Dombake · 04/13/2016, 03:12 PM

Hi RC

So I spotted a small (less than 1") star the other day, in the return section on my sump where a have some rock/rubble. I didn't think much of it, knowing they are good detritus eaters. I saw another one (I know it's different as its lighter (white almost) and the other was black.

My question is: should I try and move them to the DT?

The return section has about 1kg of Rock/rubble so not a lot, but I do seem to have a decent number of pods in the section which I presume the stars might be interested in if they aren't getting enough detritus, which is likely given I don't get a lot of it anyway and have a great cuc in the DT.

thegrun · 04/13/2016, 05:20 PM

If you have one in the return section you most likely already have then in your DT, but it's fine if you want to move it.

Maritimer · 04/13/2016, 06:47 PM

Based on my experience, there's a halfway decent chance they'll get there on their own.

I know that _one_ hitchhiked into my DT directly, on a coral frag. I know that several hitched into my HOB refugium on a ball of chaeto.

Now, there are fuzzy arms sticking out of lots of rocks in the DT. Happy stars!

~Bruce

Dombake · 04/14/2016, 12:14 AM

Thanks everyone.

I suppose I was wondering if it had a better chance being in the DT given the sump doesn't have any light and much less food source for it.

Being able to get it from Sump to the DT could be easier said than done given I've only seen them once in 4 months.

Nina51 · 04/14/2016, 08:20 AM

they don't need light to survive and they are so tiny, it doesn't take much for them to get enough to eat. i have a big ball of chaeto in my sump that is crawling with them.

04/13/2016, 03:12 PM	#1
Dombake Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 83	Small brittle star Hi RC So I spotted a small (less than 1") star the other day, in the return section on my sump where a have some rock/rubble. I didn't think much of it, knowing they are good detritus eaters. I saw another one (I know it's different as its lighter (white almost) and the other was black. My question is: should I try and move them to the DT? The return section has about 1kg of Rock/rubble so not a lot, but I do seem to have a decent number of pods in the section which I presume the stars might be interested in if they aren't getting enough detritus, which is likely given I don't get a lot of it anyway and have a great cuc in the DT. __________________ 90l DT, 40l sump, skimmer, MP10, 12.5kg LR, 1" fine gravel. Sg 1.026; temp 26; Ammonia 0. Nitrate <5, kh 8.3 LPS tank with pair of clowns.

04/13/2016, 06:47 PM	#3
Maritimer Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: SW Connecticut, U.S.A. Posts: 419	Based on my experience, there's a halfway decent chance they'll get there on their own. I know that _one_ hitchhiked into my DT directly, on a coral frag. I know that several hitched into my HOB refugium on a ball of chaeto. Now, there are fuzzy arms sticking out of lots of rocks in the DT. Happy stars! ~Bruce __________________ Because anything else ... is just a fishtank. Zoey's Reef has come to life! Zoas, 'shrooms and LPS of several sorts, CUC, dartfish, wrasses and others swim above the sand . . . Current Tank Info: Kingston & Zoey's Reef; 220g, Deltec skimmer, 2 MaxSpect Gyre x-50s, 2,500gph or so through the sump. SPS are surviving . . .

04/14/2016, 12:14 AM	#4
Dombake Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 83	Thanks everyone. I suppose I was wondering if it had a better chance being in the DT given the sump doesn't have any light and much less food source for it. Being able to get it from Sump to the DT could be easier said than done given I've only seen them once in 4 months. __________________ 90l DT, 40l sump, skimmer, MP10, 12.5kg LR, 1" fine gravel. Sg 1.026; temp 26; Ammonia 0. Nitrate <5, kh 8.3 LPS tank with pair of clowns.

04/14/2016, 08:20 AM	#5
Nina51 biggliest cofveve champ Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: 5th floor, Illinois, gewgaw expert Posts: 3,506	they don't need light to survive and they are so tiny, it doesn't take much for them to get enough to eat. i have a big ball of chaeto in my sump that is crawling with them. __________________ of all the things i've lost, i miss my gary the most. Never hold your farts in. They travel up your spine into your brain, and that is where crappy ideas come from. Current Tank Info: i gave my reef away and i feel like a bird out of a cage!!

04/13/2016, 05:20 PM	#2
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	If you have one in the return section you most likely already have then in your DT, but it's fine if you want to move it.