ID this sea star please

BigJim · 09/19/2009, 09:25 AM

I found this in my sump/refugium a few months ago. It has gotten bigger and I was wondering what it is exactly and can I add it to my 150g reef. Is it safe to add to my display tank?

Playa-1 · 09/19/2009, 09:29 AM

It's a brittle star. It's hard to tell from the pic. If it's green in color then you might not want it in your tank. I believe the rest of them are considered a safe part of the clean up crew.check out this link

100%hydrophylic · 09/19/2009, 09:32 AM

+1. if it has any green at all just keep it in your fuge to be on the safe side. no green then put it in your DT

mtisc323 · 09/19/2009, 01:01 PM

Its not even worth the risk ... just leave it in you sump

MCCOOL · 09/19/2009, 10:32 PM

I have a black/brown one that's ~14" who is a model citizen in my reef tank, like stated earlier if it's green you should probably keep it in the sump.

RicksReefs · 09/20/2009, 06:55 AM

it's a fine addition to your clean up crew.

basssnake · 09/20/2009, 07:13 AM

I have a bunch of them in my reef tanks, no problems(that i can tell).

What is wrong with the green ones?????

billdogg · 09/20/2009, 08:24 AM

the green ones tend to eat things (your fish) when they grow larger. That appears to be a black brittle star- a fine addition to your tank

dcroucher · 09/21/2009, 07:05 AM

Great scavenger, keep him. I have alot of small ones that came in one live rock.

robs.mark · 09/21/2009, 07:42 AM

Looks like a black one to me, score!

unbreakable · 09/21/2009, 08:18 AM

safe

supervdl · 09/21/2009, 08:56 AM

I have one in my tank that looks like this. I have green and red brittlestars also and I don't think they bother anything. I feed them regularly prawn though.

Chris&Jenn · 09/21/2009, 09:16 AM

we have a 13" Yellow / Green one - we keep him hand fed about every 3 days with Krill - he loves it... The only issue we ever had was if he gets really hungry he will take an aggressive stance perched up on a couple of rocks laying in wait... He has attacked a couple of Turbo snails and managed to pull them out and munch on them. I have saved a couple from his clutches... this is when the Krill came into play and no problems since.

clownaround2 · 09/21/2009, 08:07 PM

They are safe. I have one. Feed him once a week to keep him happy.

09/19/2009, 09:25 AM	#1
BigJim Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Frederick, MD Posts: 556	ID this sea star please I found this in my sump/refugium a few months ago. It has gotten bigger and I was wondering what it is exactly and can I add it to my 150g reef. Is it safe to add to my display tank? __________________ There are 3 kinds of people, those who can do math and those who can't.

09/19/2009, 09:32 AM	#3
100%hydrophylic Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: GA Posts: 1,636	+1. if it has any green at all just keep it in your fuge to be on the safe side. no green then put it in your DT __________________ :) Current Tank Info: 75g mixed reef, 28g nano SPS

09/19/2009, 10:32 PM	#5
MCCOOL Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 1,135	I have a black/brown one that's ~14" who is a model citizen in my reef tank, like stated earlier if it's green you should probably keep it in the sump. __________________ 58g reef

09/20/2009, 08:24 AM	#8
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	the green ones tend to eat things (your fish) when they grow larger. That appears to be a black brittle star- a fine addition to your tank __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

09/21/2009, 07:42 AM	#10
robs.mark Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Perth, Australia Posts: 1,461	Looks like a black one to me, score! __________________ knowledge is power! Current Tank Info: Lagoon

09/19/2009, 09:29 AM	#2
Playa-1 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 7,497	It's a brittle star. It's hard to tell from the pic. If it's green in color then you might not want it in your tank. I believe the rest of them are considered a safe part of the clean up crew.check out this link

09/19/2009, 01:01 PM	#4
mtisc323 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 53	Its not even worth the risk ... just leave it in you sump

09/20/2009, 06:55 AM	#6
RicksReefs Moved On Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: In America's Dangling Junk State. Posts: 6,413	it's a fine addition to your clean up crew.

09/20/2009, 07:13 AM	#7
basssnake Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Kansas Posts: 838	I have a bunch of them in my reef tanks, no problems(that i can tell). What is wrong with the green ones?????

09/21/2009, 07:05 AM	#9
dcroucher Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 55	Great scavenger, keep him. I have alot of small ones that came in one live rock.

09/21/2009, 08:18 AM	#11
unbreakable D: Join Date: May 2007 Location: ? Posts: 2,868	safe __________________ INTERNET= Serious Business!

09/21/2009, 08:56 AM	#12
supervdl Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: NE PA Posts: 1,315	I have one in my tank that looks like this. I have green and red brittlestars also and I don't think they bother anything. I feed them regularly prawn though. __________________ My tank thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1167897 Current Tank Info: 135 gal mixed reef with Radions and Zeovit; 210 gal SPS reef being set up

09/21/2009, 09:16 AM	#13
Chris&Jenn Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Aurora Posts: 24	we have a 13" Yellow / Green one - we keep him hand fed about every 3 days with Krill - he loves it... The only issue we ever had was if he gets really hungry he will take an aggressive stance perched up on a couple of rocks laying in wait... He has attacked a couple of Turbo snails and managed to pull them out and munch on them. I have saved a couple from his clutches... this is when the Krill came into play and no problems since.

09/21/2009, 08:07 PM	#14
clownaround2 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Orlando, Florida Posts: 174	They are safe. I have one. Feed him once a week to keep him happy.