Brittle Star (green)

[ShockSniper]

I'm still fairly new to this. I have a green brittle star that is about 12" in diameter. Just found out from the guys that Trop. that they will eat fish. So I moved him to my sump for the time being till I can give him to Trop. My question is he ok down there? Should I put any food down there, how long is too long to keep him down there. The only reason is my 4 year old is kind of attached to it.

Thank you!

joel

[iyachtuxivm]

Originally Posted by ShockSniper

I'm still fairly new to this. I have a green brittle star that is about 12" in diameter. Just found out from the guys that Trop. that they will eat fish. So I moved him to my sump for the time being till I can give him to Trop. My question is he ok down there? Should I put any food down there, how long is too long to keep him down there. The only reason is my 4 year old is kind of attached to it.

Thank you!

joel

They do eat fish. If your food you feed your fish can get to where he is in the sump then he will be fine indefinately. Which means you can keep him for as long as you want. I would just feed him a nice size chunk of something meaty every once in a while also.

[larryandlaura]

I have a huge brittle as well and its never harmed any of my fish!

[ShockSniper]

Originally Posted by larryandlaura

I have a huge brittle as well and its never harmed any of my fish!

Mine has eaten 1 fish and two shrim. So it was time for him to go. The only problem is my son.

[jolson10450]

not to sure why but yes the green ones do eat fish! i have witnessed it before, pretty neat to watch if you had a species tank for it but i would not put them in a main tank. should live for a bit in the sump, just make sure he doesnt get sucked up in a skimmer or return pump.

[larryandlaura]

Bummer horror stories!

[tommyjr61]

yes eaten fishes but in the sump you have the control to feed them whit the food that you think is better for keep far a way of your fishes. good luck

[pufferboy]

I just had 4 or 5 little brittle stars hitch hike, do they hurt anything? Main body only 3 mm in size. Arms are less then an inch. Should i begin getting rid of them???????

[binford4000]

Originally Posted by pufferboy

I just had 4 or 5 little brittle stars hitch hike, do they hurt anything? Main body only 3 mm in size. Arms are less then an inch. Should i begin getting rid of them???????

There's only a few star fish you have to be concerned about.The green brittle is one that is known to be a predator of fish and the king is a coral eater but if you had one of those you'd have no room they're huge.If your talking about the small black brittle stars they're one of the few that are truely benifical to your tank because they are great cleaners of excess food and waste.The common star fish hitch hiker is the asteria which when kept in check are really no threat.They're the small white ones.I have had a blackish grey asteria type that was very damaging to my corals.I would find them litteraly on top of the polyp's eating away.They loved gobstopers for some reason.I now have the opinon the only good star fish in a reef tank is a dead one.Harlaqin shrimp are neater then star fish anyway lol