Green brittle & Coral banded

[kpk]

Green brittle and coral banded shrimp. Are they reefsafe? Is the cbs fish safe and the brittle star coral safe? Any experiences? I am getting one of both for free, and they have been in a system for over a year and not touch his zoos, gsp etc. The cbs hasn't bothered a fish neither? What do you think?

 

[cindyski]

in my limited experience CBS are fine, i had a really huge one and he just hung out under the rocks, he was cool, till that monster crab i had got him

i have since replaced him with a much smaller one and dont see it that often
no experience with brittle stars
HTH

 

[kpk]

Thanks for the info, hate to hear that about your shrimp, because the monster crab. I don't think the brittle would be safe, but I want to see what some people thought?
Anyone else?

 

[jbone]

I just bought a reef kit from this website and it included both brittle stars and CBS. I haven't gotten it yet, but i am pretty sure that they are reef safe.

 

[kpk]

well the cbs is going in, but i have heard bad things about the green brittle stars...

 

[brian90vette]

both green brittles and cbs are reef safe. I have atleast 6 brittles in my 55. They are scavengers and will not mess with your corals.
Brian

 

[dburr]

Green brittles get big and eat fish.

 

[brian90vette]

Ive got some pretty big ones. No fish eaten. I say they are reef safe.
Brian

 

[herkemer]

I have a Green Brittle Star that is about 12 inches across and is a model citizen in our tank. He likes to wrap an arm around my finger if I get close to him and I have taken him out of the tank many times that way just to make sure I can because, I hear so much bad about them. They are scavengers so if one eats a fish, I would bet it was dead before he got it. As far as I'm concerned he is a great addition and I'm glad I bought him. We also have a serpent star that is about 8 inches across but he is shyer than the green brittle star.

 

[jlm]

Hi kpk, just hought I'd put my 2 cents in. I have both and I thought my cbs ate one of my fish but I later began to think that fish died on it's own. He has been in my 20 for about 5 months and now in my 72 for a good three months. He's been good and I have him in with other shrimp. The green brittle I have is great. I just make sure I keep him fed with silversides and shrimp (from the grocery store). He takes it right from my hand. I can usaully find him real easy. doesn't hide to much. I think you'll love them. Jenny

 

[robb]

I have a green brittle star and I had a cbs that used to hang out near the brittle star till one day my brittle star ate him! He also eats my snails so I think I'm going to remove him so I don't have to keep buying so many snails.

 

[kpk]

Thanks everyone for the replys. I got them tonight along with a cleaner some snails an anemone/yesterday and some polyps. I guess i will give the cbs and gbs a try, I don't want my watchman or clown to get eaten. Here are some pics...

 

[kpk]

and the gbs...

 

[jlm]

wow that is a big green brittle star. Just make sure you give it some food and I don't think you will have any problems. Keep a watch on him and if you need to take him out. You could always find someone with a haliquin shrimp that needs a meal is he's not good.

 

[latino277]

GBS are opportunistic feeder and scavengers. if they are hungry and come across a sleeping fish... its a wrap!!!
just keep him full and you should be fine.
CBS: I have had one for a year and other than chasing fish away when he is sleeping. he is fine. Hasn't bothered anything... actually I saw him cleaning my naso Tang a few weeks ago.

 

[kpk]

Yeah this thing is huge, it probably stretches a ft. and a half or so. I guess I will keep a watch on it. I have 3 other reg. brittles and they are great, but the green might be going to the lfs. I don't want to have to worry about my fish and all that. The cbs is really cool for how long I have had him.
Thanks all,
Kyle