Killer bristle

[zfd6]

Tonight shortly after lights out I was checking out my tank with a small flashlight and noticed some slime in my tank? I then noticed my green brittle star all wrap up on something. That something apparently was my Talbot's damsel fish! is this common or was I not feeding the star enough? I fed him a small piece of shrimp every other day. enclosed is a picture of the killer, he's pretty good sized star, my damsel was about 1" long.
zfd6

 

[beth]

Yes, brittle stars can and do prey apon smaller organisms, including fish. I suggest you try feeding him daily.

 

[bang guy]

One minor thing to add to Beth's comment... Green Brittle Starfish are fish predators. I would expect a fish predator to actually catch one once in a while.

 

[dindi]

Well they eat fish...go to you local FS and buy some frozen :silver sides" Just add water....

 

[slick]

Are green brittle stars the only ones that prey on fish? I have a red one and was just wondering.

 

[j21kickster]

i dont think the reds activle hunt fish- but i have seen them eat on before- the green have enlongated spines to help grab fish- the reds dont

 

[eight2178]

hey---the same thing happened to me!! now the brittle stars name is 'scary harry'--he ate one of my damsels, and now my purple nudibranch has been mia for a few weeks....if the nudibranch isnt hiding in the LR, maybe scary harry struck again??!!
how do you feed the brittle star? mine's never comes out unless the lights are out, then when i approach, back into the live rock it goes....do you just put the food in front of it???

 

[reefsoe]

so! thats where my watchman goby went!!!
Poor little guy was just a tiny baby not even 2 inches yet!! The monster brittle got him! guess who is goin in the refuge!!

 

[eight2178]

speaking of gobies....where's my mandarin?? damn bristle....TO THE REFUGE!!!

 

[ophiura]

The green brittlestar is a known predator in the wild. Some people have trouble with them, some don't, but don't expect them to not do something simply because you put them in a tank. These animals should not be left to scavenge. That goes for all brittle and serpent stars (the distinction is only made in this hobby). Something meaty is usually taken, like shrimp pellets, silversides, squid, krill, etc. Use a wooden skewer of forceps or your hand to get it to them.
All serpentstars and brittlestars have spines. Long spines do not mean that they are predatory. Some of my most aggressive feeders are 'serpentstars' and most docile are 'brittlestars.' My most difficult to feed (and indeed it might be starving) is a very close relative of (if not simply a different color morph of) the green brittlestar. Personalities always vary.

 

[dindi]

I feed my 3 serpent stars daily. I take frozen silversides (little long shiny fish) and cut them into pieces. Then I use a wooden shish kabob skewer stick the fish on it and hold it near their little hide out, out pops a arm and curls around it, one little twist of the skewer releases the food. They take one or two small pieces each everyday.

 

[reefsoe]

That keeps them frum atacking poor defensless little watchmen gobies.... or any other critter for that fact

 

[dindi]

Thats the idea

 

[ophiura]

It is actually still not a sure thing. If an animal is hungry, and some fish is just sitting there and it can catch it, well it will catch it. That's the instinct.

 

[dindi]

Very true, but at least they aren't hungry enough to hunt down some chow. They are plump and happy and even come out when its the evening feeding time, with the lights on. They are pretty happy I guess and used to my feeding schedule, it is a sight to see. Thats the only time I ever see them is feeding time is around