brittle star killer?

[wondermidget]

Is it possible for a brittle star that is almost the size of a dime (legs and all) to kill a blue and yellow damsel that's about an inch long? I ask because today I added the damsel, 2 small red legged hermits and a peppermint shrimp and right away the damsel hid behind some rocks (that I know at least 3 tinny brittle stars live in) and a couple of hours later he's dead and a little brittle star is eating it! All my parameters are good, it was acclamated for 1 1/2 hrs., everthing els in the tank is still alive. I'm just not sure what to think.

 

[ser_renely]

doubt it.... ????

 

[kau_cinta_ku]

I am betting it was something else and the star was just doing it's job as a clean up crew.

 

[MinnFish]

Only if this is the suspect

Only if this is the suspect

 

[wondermidget]

Thank you guys, and no MinnFish, the ones I seen have stripes and the biggest one is only about the size of a dime with it's legs stretched out, but thanks.

 

[singold]

Only the Green Brittlestar has the reputation of being a "fish-killer", the other Brittlestars are considered "fish-safe" and good clean up scavengers.

 

[kau_cinta_ku]

they are prob. just mini brittle starfish.

 

[wondermidget]

Thanks Kau_ that is more like what I have. I was told that from the size of them they are most likely about a year old and that they grow very slowly.

 

[kau_cinta_ku]

yeah they don't get very big like other starfish you see. these will stay very small.

 

[wondermidget]

Kau that's good to know because I was wondering what I was going to do with them once they got bigger. So they will only stay the size of a dime?

 

[kau_cinta_ku]

maybe the size of a quarter, but they hide mostly in the rocks so you will hardly notice them, except for their legs sticking out. they are great scavengers.