Best Reef Starfish
- Thread starter cedarreef
- Start date
ophiura
Active Member
Originally Posted by CedarReef
http:///forum/post/3106814
As much as I love the blue linckia, I don't think it would be worth is as I know how extremely delicate and difficult they are to keep. Does anyone have any experience with orange linckias? I've read that they are a lot hardier than the blues.
The blue Linckia, I pretty much guarantee, will starve in your tank within a year or so.
Orange are relatively hardier, but IMO still very marginal for your tank size. How much LR do you have?
No Linckia star is even remotely a scavenger and definitely not part of a clean up crew. The best choice might be Linckia multiflora but again it will depend on the amount of LR you keep.
FWIW, I have 10 large brittlestars, including 3 huge green brittlestars, and have had them for many many years. They are in a 45g tank, and I can not fault them for catching anything. In fact even when my sixline wrasse finally died, they did not go for the body. However I keep the tank VERY heavily fed and never assume they will be left to scavenge. The green is a known predator, others are not, but they are opportunistic in some cases. Many are blamed for no good reasons other than being caught with the body.
It is not accurate to make the general statement that "brittlestars are fast and will catch fish."
Many are filter feeders, deposit feeders, and the like...
That being said, they are a similar risk to many crabs and such - a balancing act. There is potential there but in most cases (apart from the green brittlestar) it is low.
http:///forum/post/3106814
As much as I love the blue linckia, I don't think it would be worth is as I know how extremely delicate and difficult they are to keep. Does anyone have any experience with orange linckias? I've read that they are a lot hardier than the blues.
The blue Linckia, I pretty much guarantee, will starve in your tank within a year or so.
Orange are relatively hardier, but IMO still very marginal for your tank size. How much LR do you have?
No Linckia star is even remotely a scavenger and definitely not part of a clean up crew. The best choice might be Linckia multiflora but again it will depend on the amount of LR you keep.
FWIW, I have 10 large brittlestars, including 3 huge green brittlestars, and have had them for many many years. They are in a 45g tank, and I can not fault them for catching anything. In fact even when my sixline wrasse finally died, they did not go for the body. However I keep the tank VERY heavily fed and never assume they will be left to scavenge. The green is a known predator, others are not, but they are opportunistic in some cases. Many are blamed for no good reasons other than being caught with the body.
It is not accurate to make the general statement that "brittlestars are fast and will catch fish."
Many are filter feeders, deposit feeders, and the like...That being said, they are a similar risk to many crabs and such - a balancing act. There is potential there but in most cases (apart from the green brittlestar) it is low.
ophiura
Active Member
I understand your decision and it is what we all must do in selecting livestock. For the record, I just want to add a few more points.
The capture of fish is unlikely, especially if you have sizable fish and avoid green brittlestars. Some smaller species of brittlestars...I would consider it nearly impossible for them to catch a fish. But you have to decide where to draw the line in this balance.
That being said, hermits, most crabs, and quite possibly live rock itself (as it contains bristleworms, mantis shrimp, etc...some of which are predatory) have similar risks. For me, I would never ever put a sally lightfoot crab in my tank. Even emeralds are a bit sketchy and need to be weighed against their risks. Yet these are commonly sold as CUC.
IME, the majority of people who report predatory behavior have green brittlestars. And much of the rest didn't "see" the activity but saw the star with a body...which is VERY different (you can't fault a scavenger for scavenging). Others just have things disappearing and assume it is the star.
I have seen people make pretty unlikely claims, like their brittlestar killed their triggerfish. We prefer to believe our animals were KILLED instead of that they died. This is normal to avoid guilt, frankly. But in the majority of cases, our animals died.
However, and this is a certainty...they can often tell something that is ill and dying long before we can. A stressed fish or shrimp, especially that was just added to the tank, is at risk.
I am not saying that this predatory behavior doesn't happen. I know it happens. It absolutely happens. For the green brittlestar it is documented in the scientific literature. But IMO this behavior does not occur all that often, relative to the number of people who keep them.
Now if you are an SPS keeper you may wish to avoid brittlestars because they climb up the rockwork and could dislodge frags. This is a different issue. Avoid any urchins as well, for sure (some of which may also eat soft corals)
But I get quite aggravated by the general statement that brittlestars are fish eaters and that therefore, there is signficant risk with them.
Are the microbrittlestars, probably already in everyone's tank, fish eaters? No. Some species, and some individuals, are more problematic than others The group, as a whole, is not a problem, any more so than other things we add.
The question we all must answer is what single thing do we value the most...and all other livestock is based on that. Everything we try and cram together in a small box of water has a risk. Even corals with corals, and fish with fish...that is the thrill of the hobby for me.
The capture of fish is unlikely, especially if you have sizable fish and avoid green brittlestars. Some smaller species of brittlestars...I would consider it nearly impossible for them to catch a fish. But you have to decide where to draw the line in this balance.
That being said, hermits, most crabs, and quite possibly live rock itself (as it contains bristleworms, mantis shrimp, etc...some of which are predatory) have similar risks. For me, I would never ever put a sally lightfoot crab in my tank. Even emeralds are a bit sketchy and need to be weighed against their risks. Yet these are commonly sold as CUC.
IME, the majority of people who report predatory behavior have green brittlestars. And much of the rest didn't "see" the activity but saw the star with a body...which is VERY different (you can't fault a scavenger for scavenging). Others just have things disappearing and assume it is the star.
I have seen people make pretty unlikely claims, like their brittlestar killed their triggerfish. We prefer to believe our animals were KILLED instead of that they died. This is normal to avoid guilt, frankly. But in the majority of cases, our animals died.
However, and this is a certainty...they can often tell something that is ill and dying long before we can. A stressed fish or shrimp, especially that was just added to the tank, is at risk.
I am not saying that this predatory behavior doesn't happen. I know it happens. It absolutely happens. For the green brittlestar it is documented in the scientific literature. But IMO this behavior does not occur all that often, relative to the number of people who keep them.
Now if you are an SPS keeper you may wish to avoid brittlestars because they climb up the rockwork and could dislodge frags. This is a different issue. Avoid any urchins as well, for sure (some of which may also eat soft corals)
But I get quite aggravated by the general statement that brittlestars are fish eaters and that therefore, there is signficant risk with them.
Are the microbrittlestars, probably already in everyone's tank, fish eaters? No. Some species, and some individuals, are more problematic than others
The group, as a whole, is not a problem, any more so than other things we add. The question we all must answer is what single thing do we value the most...and all other livestock is based on that. Everything we try and cram together in a small box of water has a risk. Even corals with corals, and fish with fish...that is the thrill of the hobby for me.
cedarreef
Member
After that, I don't think I'm going to swear stars off for good. I'll probably get a black brittle star some day down the line when my LFS has one in. I do keep a lot of SPS, but I have them tightly superglued to their rocks. I had to as I have an urchin who LOVES to decorate himself with anything he can find.
When I bought him, he had a mushroom growing on his back! I couldn't agree with you more about the generalizations people make about certain things. I think it's unfair to the animals as some don't fit the stereotype. For example, I have a very friendly and passive sixline wrasse. I really like the black brittle stars because they are definitely unique and IMO very beautiful starfish. Just one more question for you. If/when I get the star, how often should I feed it, and what should I feed it? Would small pieces of silversides, shrimp, and/or oysters/clams be good?
jackri
Active Member
I try to make sure I feed mine at least once a week. Sometimes he catches mysis that I feed my fish.. but I feed him freshwater shrimp pellets. It's a scramble for them between my fire shrimp, peppermint shrimp, coral banded shrimp, cleaner shrimp, hermit crabs and starfish. Everything goes nuts even my nas snails.
On the flipside I personally would never put an urchin in my tank. There might be "safe" ones but with me being in the tank and needles everywhere.. my spendy fish.. nah I would definately pass on those
On the flipside I personally would never put an urchin in my tank. There might be "safe" ones but with me being in the tank and needles everywhere.. my spendy fish.. nah I would definately pass on those
cedarreef
Member
Sounds good. I just have a small pincushion so it's not like his spikes are all over the place lol. I've never read of them eating coral or fish. I know longspines and pencil urchins might much on some soft corals. Plus, he's always in sight munching on some algae so I never have to worry about accidentally touching him.
ophiura
Active Member
One of my favs is actually this guy:
which is often called the harlequin brittlestar.
I have a couple of black brittlestars, but it should be noted there are two in the trade. Both are close relatives. One is Ophiocoma echinata and the other is Ophiocoma wendtii. In my tank, neither are particularly obvious during the day. I have found that my echinata basically makes a burrow in the sand and is very much a deposit feeder, moving a lot of sand particles. wendtii is more of a true scavenger. Its spines are longer and cylindrical while echinata has fat stubby one's. I think I have a pic on another computer that I'll try and post later.
O. wendtii is quite famous in the scientific world in recent years:
Ophiocoma wendtii lenses
which is often called the harlequin brittlestar.
I have a couple of black brittlestars, but it should be noted there are two in the trade. Both are close relatives. One is Ophiocoma echinata and the other is Ophiocoma wendtii. In my tank, neither are particularly obvious during the day. I have found that my echinata basically makes a burrow in the sand and is very much a deposit feeder, moving a lot of sand particles. wendtii is more of a true scavenger. Its spines are longer and cylindrical while echinata has fat stubby one's. I think I have a pic on another computer that I'll try and post later.
O. wendtii is quite famous in the scientific world in recent years:
Ophiocoma wendtii lenses
tax lady
Member
Originally Posted by ophiura
http:///forum/post/3107418
One of my favs is actually this guy:
which is often called the harlequin brittlestar.
I have a couple of black brittlestars, but it should be noted there are two in the trade. Both are close relatives. One is Ophiocoma echinata and the other is Ophiocoma wendtii. In my tank, neither are particularly obvious during the day. I have found that my echinata basically makes a burrow in the sand and is very much a deposit feeder, moving a lot of sand particles. wendtii is more of a true scavenger. Its spines are longer and cylindrical while echinata has fat stubby one's. I think I have a pic on another computer that I'll try and post later.
O. wendtii is quite famous in the scientific world in recent years:
Ophiocoma wendtii lenses
Ophiura, does this starfish come to the front and is very visable? i will be wanting a starfish when my tank is stablized. and on one site someone posted a starfish they had that was very playful and came to the front a lot.
thanks.,
http:///forum/post/3107418
One of my favs is actually this guy:
which is often called the harlequin brittlestar.
I have a couple of black brittlestars, but it should be noted there are two in the trade. Both are close relatives. One is Ophiocoma echinata and the other is Ophiocoma wendtii. In my tank, neither are particularly obvious during the day. I have found that my echinata basically makes a burrow in the sand and is very much a deposit feeder, moving a lot of sand particles. wendtii is more of a true scavenger. Its spines are longer and cylindrical while echinata has fat stubby one's. I think I have a pic on another computer that I'll try and post later.
O. wendtii is quite famous in the scientific world in recent years:
Ophiocoma wendtii lenses
Ophiura, does this starfish come to the front and is very visable? i will be wanting a starfish when my tank is stablized. and on one site someone posted a starfish they had that was very playful and came to the front a lot.
thanks.,
ophiura
Active Member
That is just not normal behavior, really, for any star. I wouldn't describe any as "playful"
What needs to be done is understand the limitations of the tank and experience of the keeper, and get a star based on that. Many situations are not suitable for stars at all
I suspect it was Meowzer's thread which is an orange Linckia - a very delicate star requiring a pretty large mature reef tank with a lot of LR. It was not playful, so much as kinda climbed as far as it could That star could easily go straight to the back of LR and not be seen for days.
Brittlestars are nocturnal and most will not be seen during the day. Other seastars have a variety of behaviors.
What needs to be done is understand the limitations of the tank and experience of the keeper, and get a star based on that. Many situations are not suitable for stars at all
I suspect it was Meowzer's thread which is an orange Linckia - a very delicate star requiring a pretty large mature reef tank with a lot of LR. It was not playful, so much as kinda climbed as far as it could
That star could easily go straight to the back of LR and not be seen for days.Brittlestars are nocturnal and most will not be seen during the day. Other seastars have a variety of behaviors.