brittle Star Question

criketnest

criketnest

Member
BF came home from LFS with Brittle star (All I wanted was some LR and shrimp with Spriolina). LFS told him it would not climb out of the tank. So Far Today we Have rescued it twice from behind the filter (I have A Emperor 400) its whole body except for 2 legs out of the water. Is this normal and if it is what can I do to stop it? I Dont want to keep having to lift filter to get him out.
Chris
 
corally

corally

Active Member
I have had a brittle for about 2 months and he has never climbed out, I've never even seen him more than a couple of inches from the bottom.
 
criketnest

criketnest

Member
Over 2 Months and all readings have been stable I will have to recheck again is he keeps climbing out. I have a Foxface, 1 tomato Clown, 2 damsels and assorted Hermit crabs and snails, 1 emerald crab and 1 sally lightfoot. BF got star Last Friday and this is the first time he has tried to climb out. Tank is 65 gallon with Plenty of Live rock
Chris
 
monalisa

monalisa

Active Member
I've had 2 brittle stars in my tank for...hmmm...about 6 months now. I can't say that I've ever seen mine trying to climb out of the tank. Are your water parameters in check? How old/young is your tank? Stars tend to be pretty susceptible to not so good water parameters (I didn't know that when I put mine in..but they're fine).
Usually I find my brittles climbing the walls when they need to be spot fed. Then they get either some frozen prime reef or frozen formula 2, they love 'em both. I also spot feed Scampi (my coral banded shrimp) at the same time. Happy campers!!
Lisa :happyfish
 
criketnest

criketnest

Member
I am feeding Brine Shrimp with Sprirolina, Formula 1 Small pellets and algae. (not all at once of course)
I guess I will test water perameters and see if I need a water change. Usually test once a week but did it twice last week because of water change and numbers were good. Salinity 1.024, 0 ammonia, 0 Nitrites and 10 on the Nitrates.
Chris
 
monalisa

monalisa

Active Member
Hmmm...parameters look really pretty good (work on getting the nitrates down a tad...water changes).
I know that my brittles love it when my fish get brine shrimp. But their favorite is being spot fed the prime reef. Frozen formula 2 is okay too, but by far, prime reef is their favorite.
Best of luck with your stars...sounds like you're doing what you need to do.
Lisa :happyfish
 
S

sinner's girl

Guest
I had my brittle for over 5 years, he'd hang out on the filter, ph, or heater, stick an arm out, but he never climb out. test your water. something is wrong. Maybe change the water flow or something. He must like something about the filter?
Mine always came out when he wanted food. I feed him shrimp, and pieces from the seafood Sinner would buy to eat sometimes.
 
mudplayerx

mudplayerx

Active Member
I have the green brittle and it never climbs out of the tank. It doesn't even leave the sand. It doesn't prey on any tankmates either.
 
criketnest

criketnest

Member
Well after the 2 rescues the star is now staying under one of my rocks. I bought some frozen formula 2 today and wanted to get some prime reef but they were out of that. Tested water also today and the following readings - SG 1.025 Ph 8.2 Ammonia 0 Nitrite 0 Nitrate 10. I guess I have some weird Animals.
The Clownfish had white spots all over him on wednesday and they are totally gone today. So who knows. Thanks for the help though
Chris
 
salty cheese

salty cheese

Active Member
Starfish are very sensitive to changes in salinty and I'm going guess your acclimation process did not give it time to adapt, so it took matters into its own hands and removed itself from the tank till it could acclimate to your tanks salinity level. :happyfish
 
criketnest

criketnest

Member
Originally Posted by Salty Cheese
Starfish are very sensitive to changes in salinty and I'm going guess your acclimation process did not give it time to adapt, so it took matters into its own hands and removed itself from the tank till it could acclimate to your tanks salinity level. :happyfish

That is possible. I Kinda do the Drip method except I put bag in tank after 15 minutes I start Adding water from my tank to the bagg every 5 minutes for approx 1/2 hour. I have done this method with all the fish and inverts I put in tank with no problems. But there is always a first time
Thanks for the help
chris
 
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