brittle stars, get rid of them?

kelrn98 · 11/23/2006, 08:23 PM

I got 2 brittle stars with a clean up crew. I recently read they can eat fish. Of course the information I originally read said they are good for detrious. No fish in tank yet. Should I get rid of them now?

Swanwillow · 11/23/2006, 08:39 PM

depends on what you got!
green=bad, brown=iffy, everything else is so far known to be ok except for when:
the fish is ill, injured, or otherwise incapacitated and cannot swim away from the starfish-not usually including sleeping

kelrn98 · 11/23/2006, 08:50 PM

They appear "brown" in color to me. I guess I'll just keep an eye on them. I think they are pretty cool. Have been spot feeding them every other day. Hopefully they won't be a problem!?!

phishy2 · 11/23/2006, 08:54 PM

hmm i thought brown were the safe ones, mine stays under liverock and reaches its arms out when food hits the water... ive never seen it out at night either... guess its fed enough i target feed him once a week or so as well...

how are the yellow ones? i saw them at the lfs and thought they were good looking, much too big for my current setup though.

11/23/2006, 08:23 PM	#1
kelrn98 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Biloxi, MS Posts: 856	brittle stars, get rid of them? I got 2 brittle stars with a clean up crew. I recently read they can eat fish. Of course the information I originally read said they are good for detrious. No fish in tank yet. Should I get rid of them now? __________________ ~Kelly~ Current Tank Info: 96x24x30 -300g mixed reef: 75g sump, 35g fuge, 2x MP60, 4x Radion Pros, reef octopus X5000 skimmer, way too much LR and a few fish

11/23/2006, 08:39 PM	#2
Swanwillow goby girl Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Bemidji MN Posts: 2,025	depends on what you got! green=bad, brown=iffy, everything else is so far known to be ok except for when: the fish is ill, injured, or otherwise incapacitated and cannot swim away from the starfish-not usually including sleeping __________________ my advice:walk away. do nothing. til tomorrow. if its still alive, it will hopefully be fine. If you do not see it, do not try to find it. it may be hiding. just LEAVE it alone Current Tank Info: starting over! 125 gallon. Soon to be home to Blackfoot clowns, A. nigripes

11/23/2006, 08:50 PM	#3
kelrn98 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Biloxi, MS Posts: 856	They appear "brown" in color to me. I guess I'll just keep an eye on them. I think they are pretty cool. Have been spot feeding them every other day. Hopefully they won't be a problem!?! __________________ ~Kelly~ Current Tank Info: 96x24x30 -300g mixed reef: 75g sump, 35g fuge, 2x MP60, 4x Radion Pros, reef octopus X5000 skimmer, way too much LR and a few fish

11/23/2006, 08:54 PM	#4
phishy2 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 190	hmm i thought brown were the safe ones, mine stays under liverock and reaches its arms out when food hits the water... ive never seen it out at night either... guess its fed enough i target feed him once a week or so as well... how are the yellow ones? i saw them at the lfs and thought they were good looking, much too big for my current setup though. __________________ Phishy Current Tank Info: 37gal, tomato clown, midas blenny, royal gramma, lawnmower blenny, cleanup crew, closed brain, pavona, zoathids, haitian condy, pink birdsnest, 29gal african cichlids, 75gal african cichlids