me-n-my-fish
Member
I have been pondering getting a brittle star for my tank. But, i have seen here and there that they eat fish? Anybody have this problem?
Brittle Stars??
- Thread starter me-n-my-fish
- Start date
katara
Member
I have 2 brittles and a baby serpent star and I have never had any problems w/them bothering my other tank inhabitants.I do make sure to feed them a thumbnail size piece of food 3-4 times a week.Though most say that they are nocturnal, mine do come out in full light whenever they feel like it and also get along well together (though,that is not the norm)They will eat a dead, or close to death, fish.HTH.
ocellaris_keeper
Active Member
Get a Serpent or Brittle star and no - they don't eatg fish. They do however eat anything that dies in the tank - that's what their good for - keeping the ammonia level even by eating anyting that's dead.
ophiura
Active Member
The green brittlestar Ophiarachna incrassata is a known predator in the wild, and can catch and eat small fish, shrimp and snails.
I would say most people have absolutely no problems with them, but it is a risk, and there have been numerous reports of problems in the tank. Avoid the green.
However, it is a risk I am beginning to extend to all brittle/serpentstars. Here is my new blanket disclaimer: if you have any small fish or animals that you absolutely can not risk parting with, I would suggest you not get any brittle/serpentstars.
Of course if this is a worry, there are lots of animals to avoid.
Whatever you get, they must be kept spot fed (NEVER allow them simply to scavenge, regardless of what the LFS says) and acclimate them very slowly (over many hours if possible). This is especially true for the red serpentstar, which is extremely delicate.
Like all echinoderms, tank conditions should be pristine, and the tank should be mature...I prefer 6 months at least, but it depends on the species to some extent. Specific gravity, ideally, should be in the 1.025-1.026 range...definitely at least 1.023.
As mentioned, they tend not to venture out in the open during the day. Brittlestars do not generally like bright lights. Be prepared that you may not see much more than a few arms sticking out. Also note that, on the whole, most species of brittlestars and serpentstars coexist quite well both in captivity and in the wild. Again, the only reports to the contrary in reef tanks appears to be with the greens.
I would say most people have absolutely no problems with them, but it is a risk, and there have been numerous reports of problems in the tank. Avoid the green.
However, it is a risk I am beginning to extend to all brittle/serpentstars. Here is my new blanket disclaimer: if you have any small fish or animals that you absolutely can not risk parting with, I would suggest you not get any brittle/serpentstars.
Of course if this is a worry, there are lots of animals to avoid.
Whatever you get, they must be kept spot fed (NEVER allow them simply to scavenge, regardless of what the LFS says) and acclimate them very slowly (over many hours if possible). This is especially true for the red serpentstar, which is extremely delicate.
Like all echinoderms, tank conditions should be pristine, and the tank should be mature...I prefer 6 months at least, but it depends on the species to some extent. Specific gravity, ideally, should be in the 1.025-1.026 range...definitely at least 1.023.
As mentioned, they tend not to venture out in the open during the day. Brittlestars do not generally like bright lights. Be prepared that you may not see much more than a few arms sticking out. Also note that, on the whole, most species of brittlestars and serpentstars coexist quite well both in captivity and in the wild. Again, the only reports to the contrary in reef tanks appears to be with the greens.