Starfish

[newone]

Need to know if a brittle star & Porcelan crab & two camelback shrimps be ok in my 15gl tank?

 

[rbmount]

Probably so, but a brittle gets pretty big. You might try a serpent star.

 

[saltyrich]

I agree. I've got a very small black brittle star and a serpet star in my 30 gallon. I've also got a lot of rockwork for them to maneuver in though. A 15 gallon is a bit small.

 

[tsx]

I believe this was sold to me as a blue serpent star 3 years ago; it's now a good 10 to 12 inches across.

 

[bang guy]

Originally posted by rbmount
Probably so, but a brittle gets pretty big. You might try a serpent star.
What's the difference?

 

[tsx]

Outside of coloration I don't think there's that much difference; mine stays under the rocks most of the time but becomes very active at feeding time; gets a lot of oohs and aahs when friends are over.

 

[bang guy]

That's a cool looking starfish.

 

[tsx]

Thanks. He's been a good tankmate for the most part; however I do accuse it of being an active part in the disappearance of a cleanershrimp, no proof but a molting shrimp may have been irresistable.

 

[daredevil]

Bang, would brittle stars eat hermits? I had 6 and I only have 2 left. I only found 2 empty shells. Do they eat shells and all? Also when something molts is it from stress?

 

[bang guy]

I don't know of any Brittle Stars that could eat a Hermit unless it was dead. They're pretty good at defending themselves.
Hermits will molt for quite a few reasons. The most common is stress. This is a natural part of their lives though. The stress most often responsible for molting is a build up of toxic material in the exoskeleton. On the reef there are many elements that are toxic to crabs & shrimp. Copper, Zinc, Iodine, etc. To cope with these toxins Crabs and Shrimp have a process that pulls them from their body and stores them in the chiton of their exoskeleton. When the buildup gets to the point where the toxins can no longer be shifted (this is what causes the stress) the animal will simply molt and discard the accumulated toxins. A new layer of chiton will be exposed, harden, and then they're ready to go again.

 

[daredevil]

Thanks, So are they hiding? I have good water parameters but I lost 4 fish(clowns and a sixline). I think I have fish lice. I 'll let the tank sit for 6 weeks. Do fish lice affect inverts? Thanks.