Brittle star with toby?

[rssjsb]

I asked this in the FOWLR board but got no response. Does anyone have any experience with tobies and brittle stars? I've got a small toby in QT and would like to move him, but want to know if he'll pick on a large (like 12-14" total armspan) brittle star that is currently in the tank.

The starfish was a hitchhiker in the first reef tank I set up. He's been with me for a long time and I don't want anything to happen to him. I could move him to the fuge, but it would be a PITA.

I have another (FO) tank I could put the toby in, but would need to wait until he's bigger.

Thanks.

 

[Elysia]

I have a tank w/ a brittle star. The last time I saw the entire brittle was when I re-did the rock-scaping for the tank, and at that time, the brittle (a "regular" brown and white brittle from Florida) was mature and a decent size. There is a 8" diameter piece of live rock that the brittle lives under, and I only ever get to see its arms unless I disturb its home (unlike my serpent, which use to come out and move about the tank.)

Any-who, since re-doing the rockscape, I added a toby to the tank. Everyone has been together for over six months now, and the star is still alive. I have never seen the toby go after the star, but I can imagine a situation where the two go for the same piece of food and the star gets nipped. I generally make sure that the star gets some tasty bit of food every once in a while (either a mixed frozen food or fresh shrimp, crab, fish... whenever the family has seafood, the star gets some, too.)

By the way, this star didn't come out from under its rock even before the toby was in the tank. That is why I decided I was comfortable putting the two together. I think it would depend on the situation. I also haven't had many problems with my toby nipping anything. I don't know if this is normal, or if I have been lucky in this regard.

 

[rssjsb]

Thanks, Elysia. This makes me feel a little better. My big brittle is similar - I only see the tips of his arms. The toby is also pretty mellow, so with any luck it'll work out.