Green brittle star

[rzbud99]

Hi -
I have recently purchased a green brittle star from LFS - noticed that several online sites sell them as well. All the description says is that you have to feed the green ones, but they make a great addition to a reef tank. Well, I decided to find out more info once I bought it (I know, I know - no need to scold here. Should have researched more) and WOW!! It was scary. The green ones will eat your fish!?? Is this true? If so, by feeding it, will this prevent it from eating my fish? What, how much & how often do I need to feed it? It still small - about 4-5 inches maybe 6. One other question - if I feed it will it still "scavenge" for food and help keep tank clean? Any help will be greatly appreciated. :notsure:

 

[tak1968]

I feed mine small pieces of shrimp 2 times a week by hand. And it will still scavenge in the tank even if you feed it. If you do not spot feed it will eat your small fish when it gets bigger. Hope this helps. Tak

 

[clarkiiclo]

They will eat anything they can find. I had to get rid of mine because they kept trying to eat my anemone.
Yes the anemone. Not the anemone was not sick. Also mine were over a foot across when I had to get rid of them.

 

[nflnutswif]

Green brittle almost 2 years old 3 times the size of orginal purchase, has never bothered a thing in my tank. I feed him at least twice a week. If he's hungry he'll come out from under the rocks and beg! He loves formula foods!
enjoy him there great!

 

[rzbud99]

Thanks everyone! I'm going to continue feeding him krill/shrimp and such and see what happens. Don't want to get rid of it, but if it does bother the fish he'll definately go back to the store.

 

[ophiura]

I have three greens (and a number of other brittlestars) and I haven't noticed any problem. Sometimes I see them near empty snail shells but it is unclear if they killed it or the snail died. But I had all three in a 15g with a six line wrasse (and a damsel before that) and no issues at all. They certainly could change over time...it is a known predator, but it is not a sure thing at all. They are actually quite interesting to feed and watch. I do recommend feeding but this may not impact predatory behavior which appears to be an individual characteristic (personality). Just know that a lot of things are possible when you keep animals together...part of the risk of this hobby. But not a guaranteed problem.