Brittle star trapped?

kenyacat · 10/14/2008, 03:54 AM

I have a large brittle star (brown) that has managed to get himself in between the two parts of the overflow. This is the built in American Glass type overflow. There is an outerwall that you see when looking at the tank. Then there is the inner wall with a small space in between. He is in between there.

He has been there about a week. We tried to lure him out with food, but that didn't work. We don't want to go poking around with a hook of some type because we do not want to kill him. Not sure if he can get out on his own. Over the weekend he was still alive. You see the tips of his arms reach through the grate every so often.

Any suggestions on how bad this is and how to get him out.

Thing is to even get in there he would have had to go about the water level, up and over the overflow.

scrmbld33 · 10/14/2008, 04:57 AM

i would try 2 sticks and try and lift him out. i had a green star trapped in mine for a while, he got out on his own.

2534878 · 10/14/2008, 06:12 AM

It's always been my experience that whatever a star fish gets into, it can most likely get out of too. I could be wrong, JUST IMOE. If it's not doing any damage or interefering with anything, I would just let it be. Please, anyone else PLEASE let me know if this is bad advice, I don't want him to do nothing then have it die

I would feel bad. Thanks

IslandCrow · 10/14/2008, 08:10 AM

Have you watched him at night to see if he gets out. My brittle star has decided he likes hanging out behind my overflow now as well. He comes out at night, does his foraging and then goes back to his spot in the morning. My guess would be that he is not stuck.

mikekr · 10/14/2008, 08:28 AM

I've had a serpent star in the same spot as yours for about 3 months now. Every few days I'll see an arm or two poking out. At first I tried to get it out but couldn't. I guess it will come out if it wants to.

acrodave · 10/14/2008, 09:37 AM

If it got in. it can get out

kenyacat · 10/14/2008, 12:51 PM

Thanks. I will let him be for a while. Heck there is probably all kinds of things for him to eat back there.

loosecannon · 10/14/2008, 07:47 PM

He will be fine.

10/14/2008, 03:54 AM	#1
kenyacat Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 273	Brittle star trapped? I have a large brittle star (brown) that has managed to get himself in between the two parts of the overflow. This is the built in American Glass type overflow. There is an outerwall that you see when looking at the tank. Then there is the inner wall with a small space in between. He is in between there. He has been there about a week. We tried to lure him out with food, but that didn't work. We don't want to go poking around with a hook of some type because we do not want to kill him. Not sure if he can get out on his own. Over the weekend he was still alive. You see the tips of his arms reach through the grate every so often. Any suggestions on how bad this is and how to get him out. Thing is to even get in there he would have had to go about the water level, up and over the overflow. __________________ 75g w/ sump--13 lbs LR, 31 lbs BR, 2 turbo snails, 11 nassarius snails, 2 False Percula Clowns, cleaner shrimp, brittle star, Sebae Anemone, chaeto--378w T5 Constellation-- Cyclone skimmer

10/14/2008, 04:57 AM	#2
scrmbld33 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: south jersey 08050 Posts: 2,394	i would try 2 sticks and try and lift him out. i had a green star trapped in mine for a while, he got out on his own. __________________ a left over shrimp shedding is not "a sicilian message meaning luca brasi sleeps with the fishes" fish are friends, not food Current Tank Info: 90gal salt, 2 250mh 14k hamiltons 2 110 actinic, 127lbs LR,50lbs tonga 70lbs indonesia 7lbs tonga branch asm g3

10/14/2008, 08:10 AM	#4
IslandCrow Reef Monkey Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Rockledge, Fl Posts: 5,759	Have you watched him at night to see if he gets out. My brittle star has decided he likes hanging out behind my overflow now as well. He comes out at night, does his foraging and then goes back to his spot in the morning. My guess would be that he is not stuck. __________________ All opinions in the above message should be taken with 35 ppt salt. -Mike C. Current Tank Info: I have a reef screen saver on my phone, does that count?

10/14/2008, 08:28 AM	#5
mikekr Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Plantation, FL Posts: 52	I've had a serpent star in the same spot as yours for about 3 months now. Every few days I'll see an arm or two poking out. At first I tried to get it out but couldn't. I guess it will come out if it wants to. __________________ Mike Current Tank Info: 55 gal mixed reef tank, 10 gal fuge, 17 gal sump, T-5's, mag 9.5, koralia 3 & 4, MSX 160

10/14/2008, 09:37 AM	#6
acrodave REEF NERD Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: maryville tn-- work in knoxville Posts: 4,187	If it got in. it can get out __________________ Peace,Dave Superman puts on Tim Tebow pajamas when he goes to bed The Heisman as a sophomore nuff said Less technology more biology Tattoos are the only art you can take to the grave Current Tank Info: 26gal bow,20gal mantis tank/fuge150wHQI,20k AB Seio 620 maxijet1200x's 2 on a wave maker. all sps

10/14/2008, 06:12 AM	#3
2534878 Moved On Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Chester Springs PA Posts: 32	It's always been my experience that whatever a star fish gets into, it can most likely get out of too. I could be wrong, JUST IMOE. If it's not doing any damage or interefering with anything, I would just let it be. Please, anyone else PLEASE let me know if this is bad advice, I don't want him to do nothing then have it die I would feel bad. Thanks

10/14/2008, 12:51 PM	#7
kenyacat Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 273	Thanks. I will let him be for a while. Heck there is probably all kinds of things for him to eat back there. __________________ 75g w/ sump--13 lbs LR, 31 lbs BR, 2 turbo snails, 11 nassarius snails, 2 False Percula Clowns, cleaner shrimp, brittle star, Sebae Anemone, chaeto--378w T5 Constellation-- Cyclone skimmer

10/14/2008, 07:47 PM	#8
loosecannon Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: port kent Posts: 1,292	He will be fine. __________________ I like getting WET! Current Tank Info: 44gal. 40 gal. 75 gal. 30gal. and working on a 75gal. rigt