brittle star killer?

wondermidget · 07/19/2008, 09:18 PM

Is it possible for a brittle star that is almost the size of a dime (legs and all) to kill a blue and yellow damsel that's about an inch long? I ask because today I added the damsel, 2 small red legged hermits and a peppermint shrimp and right away the damsel hid behind some rocks (that I know at least 3 tinny brittle stars live in) and a couple of hours later he's dead and a little brittle star is eating it! All my parameters are good, it was acclamated for 1 1/2 hrs., everthing els in the tank is still alive. I'm just not sure what to think.

ser_renely · 07/19/2008, 09:20 PM

doubt it.... ????

kau_cinta_ku · 07/19/2008, 09:26 PM

I am betting it was something else and the star was just doing it's job as a clean up crew.

MinnFish · 07/19/2008, 09:36 PM

wondermidget · 07/19/2008, 09:52 PM

Thank you guys, and no MinnFish, the ones I seen have stripes and the biggest one is only about the size of a dime with it's legs stretched out, but thanks.

singold · 07/19/2008, 09:55 PM

Only the Green Brittlestar has the reputation of being a "fish-killer", the other Brittlestars are considered "fish-safe" and good clean up scavengers.

kau_cinta_ku · 07/19/2008, 09:57 PM

they are prob. just mini brittle starfish.

wondermidget · 07/19/2008, 10:01 PM

Thanks Kau_ that is more like what I have. I was told that from the size of them they are most likely about a year old and that they grow very slowly.

kau_cinta_ku · 07/19/2008, 11:34 PM

yeah they don't get very big like other starfish you see. these will stay very small.

wondermidget · 07/21/2008, 10:33 PM

Kau that's good to know because I was wondering what I was going to do with them once they got bigger. So they will only stay the size of a dime?

kau_cinta_ku · 07/22/2008, 12:38 AM

maybe the size of a quarter, but they hide mostly in the rocks so you will hardly notice them, except for their legs sticking out. they are great scavengers.

07/19/2008, 09:18 PM	#1
wondermidget Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Cadillac, MI (BFE) Posts: 279	brittle star killer? Is it possible for a brittle star that is almost the size of a dime (legs and all) to kill a blue and yellow damsel that's about an inch long? I ask because today I added the damsel, 2 small red legged hermits and a peppermint shrimp and right away the damsel hid behind some rocks (that I know at least 3 tinny brittle stars live in) and a couple of hours later he's dead and a little brittle star is eating it! All my parameters are good, it was acclamated for 1 1/2 hrs., everthing els in the tank is still alive. I'm just not sure what to think.

07/19/2008, 09:20 PM	#2
ser_renely Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1,820	doubt it.... ???? __________________ RIP: Osc. Clown - Ammonia, YW GobY - overflow, YW Goby - Pistol shrimp, Firefish - acclimation. 5 Fire fish - pistol shrimp, Mandarin - Pistol shrimp!!!!! Current Tank Info: 60g Cube, 15g sump/fuge,Tunze 9010 skimmer, Reefbreeders Photon 16" - 2 Osc. Clowns,2 Lyretail Anthias, Blue Chromis, mp20, mp10....another DAMN pistol shrimp!

07/19/2008, 09:36 PM	#4
MinnFish Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Home of 10,000 lakes Posts: 917	Only if this is the suspect

07/19/2008, 09:52 PM	#5
wondermidget Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Cadillac, MI (BFE) Posts: 279	Thank you guys, and no MinnFish, the ones I seen have stripes and the biggest one is only about the size of a dime with it's legs stretched out, but thanks. __________________ Cheri Current Tank Info: 85 gal. reef.

07/19/2008, 09:55 PM	#6
singold Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Lake Saint Louis, Missouri Posts: 1,827	Only the Green Brittlestar has the reputation of being a "fish-killer", the other Brittlestars are considered "fish-safe" and good clean up scavengers. __________________ "If there is no wind.....row." Current Tank Info: 75gal Reef w/29gal Refugium

07/19/2008, 09:26 PM	#3
kau_cinta_ku Moved On Join Date: May 2005 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,669	I am betting it was something else and the star was just doing it's job as a clean up crew.

07/19/2008, 09:57 PM	#7
kau_cinta_ku Moved On Join Date: May 2005 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,669	they are prob. just mini brittle starfish.

07/19/2008, 10:01 PM	#8
wondermidget Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Cadillac, MI (BFE) Posts: 279	Thanks Kau_ that is more like what I have. I was told that from the size of them they are most likely about a year old and that they grow very slowly. __________________ Cheri Current Tank Info: 85 gal. reef.

07/19/2008, 11:34 PM	#9
kau_cinta_ku Moved On Join Date: May 2005 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,669	yeah they don't get very big like other starfish you see. these will stay very small.

07/21/2008, 10:33 PM	#10
wondermidget Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Cadillac, MI (BFE) Posts: 279	Kau that's good to know because I was wondering what I was going to do with them once they got bigger. So they will only stay the size of a dime? __________________ Cheri Current Tank Info: 85 gal. reef.

07/22/2008, 12:38 AM	#11
kau_cinta_ku Moved On Join Date: May 2005 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,669	maybe the size of a quarter, but they hide mostly in the rocks so you will hardly notice them, except for their legs sticking out. they are great scavengers.