aggressive brittle stars

[sevenkillers]

As I am new to this marine hobby. I am just wondering if brittle stars are aggressive eaters, and aggrisive to other invertabrate.

I have noticed that one out the two stars, becomes very active when I feed the tank. He comes out and climbs the rock searching for food.

He also tried to eat several snail over the past few days.
just wondering if this is normal behavior, and do I have to worry about my lettuce Nudibranch.

Any info is greatly appreciated.

 

[Amador]

I believe (correct me if I'm wrong) that the green brittles are the ones you need to watch out for. The brown, zebra, etc should be ok, but be careful with the "green death"! I have read accounts of them eating fish that sleep in rocks (blennies, etc) at night.

See: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/brittlestars.htm

One species in common use warrants a statutory warning. This is the Green Brittle Star of the genus Ophiarachna. This animal is a predatory fish eater, that does indeed do a spiffy janitorial job when small... but grows quickly, and under darkness of night can/does learn to eat aquarium fishes. This species has been documented to arch up in "sleeping caves" of captive fishes and drop down on unsuspecting meals. If you use this species, keep an eye on it, and a count on your piscine livestock.

 

[dc]

Yep, I think they'll eat anything they can catch. Mine ate my cleaner shrimp.

 

[Tripspike]

I have two brown brittles and they are a hoot to watch. They become very active when I feed the fish looking for scraps. They have not bothered anything: fish, snails, carbs, shrimp in my tank.

They are what I call first responders. They are the first creature to make their way to an animal which has expired.

Trip

 

[55Reef]

I've been a little suspicious about my brown brittle star lately. I've had a few fish and shrimp disappear for no reason. She is about 15" tip to tip.

Big starfish + Small tank = no place for fish to hide.

I hear the Green brittle stars are the most aqqresive though.

 

[Catharsis70]

Mine is the most lazy star on the planet. I am lucky if it puts out a tentacle to grad some grub. Odd thing is it really is curious about my hands and will come out and try to climb me almost everytime I go into the tank.

 

[sevenkillers]

Did a little research, and I have read that the green britle stars grows quite big, and is aggressive.

So I guess I will be getting rid of them.

 

[jessp]

i have a bold brittle that won't hide even when i grab him with the tongs, he is always grabbing food from my sunpolyps. i even cover the coral when feeding with the top of a bottle and he slips his little tentacles right in

 

[Shekki]

My green brittle doesn't bother healthy animals, but the moment they start looking sick, watch out! Mine ate a dead clownfish and a dying blackcap basslet. He now lives in a nano with a firefish, mandarin, blood shrimp, and peppermint shrimp and they seem to get along fine.

Robb