Eradicating brittle stars

[Phyxius]

I picked some live rock up from CL for possible use in a cube and was told it has a few brittle stars in it and that was all that was an issue...I examined the rock and saw maybe one or two the whole time I was looking and it was fairly dim in the room. WELL its not an issue its an epidemic of them as well as a few aiptasia. Joes juice and kalk paste has pretty much gotten the aiptasia so far. Is there a easy safe way to eradicate these or am I going to have to cook and or possibly dry out the rock. Its not a matter of 10-20 brittle stars its a matter of probably 1-200 of them in the rock of all sizes. They are the normal red and tan looking striped brittle stars.

 

[Bongo Shrimp]

Why do you want to get rid of them? They are one of- if not the most beneficial parts of the CUC. Plus they're free!

 

[Phyxius]

Why do you want to get rid of them? They are one of- if not the most beneficial parts of the CUC. Plus they're free!

I realize that but in a 60g cube with hundreds of them its not beneficial when they will steal the food off any corals I try to feed........If it was in my 210 I would have less of a worry. I threw a small silverside in the tub the rocks in and within minutes it looked like a scene from the " Swarm"

 

[olemiss reb]

Double dose of flatworm exit.

 

[tetra-tag]

Bait/trap out the majority and move them to the 210 or trade/sell to other reefers. I've read that they give birth to live young, which puts a limit on their rate of reproduction. Control the remaining population by limiting their food supply or via an introduced predator.

 

[mscarpena]

They never stole any food from my corals. Also a radiant wrasse that I had put a good dent in my population. Also not over feeding will keep them in check.

 

[Phyxius]

They never stole any food from my corals. Also a radiant wrasse that I had put a good dent in my population. Also not over feeding will keep them in check.

Just wanted to note this rock has never been in any of my tanks as I just bought it off CL.Introducing a predator fish into the holding container really isnt a viable option at this time. I thought about dipping the rock in Revive or the like but dont want to kill off any beneficial critters ( pods or the like ) in the rock that may still be there. I have a feeling the other person may have over fed the tank as I used a strong pump and have blown much detrius off the rock. I will just cook the rock and leave it without food for awhile and hopefully they will die off before I need to use the rock.

 

[Phyxius]

Well I`m now stumped as I pulled a few out. Brittle stars from what I had known or thought I knew have 5 legs off their body. The ones I`m pulling out all have 6 but same colorings. Anyone know exactly what these starfish are I`m yanking out or if its still a brittle star of some sort.....

 

[Mysterion]

Well I`m now stumped as I pulled a few out. Brittle stars from what I had known or thought I knew have 5 legs off their body. The ones I`m pulling out all have 6 but same colorings. Anyone know exactly what these starfish are I`m yanking out or if its still a brittle star of some sort.....

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1357704

I wish I could take some off you, too bad you're not local.:thumbsup:

 

[mscarpena]

Thise are what I have. Also if you want to do a dip when the things you want come out just suck them out with a turkey baster or tweezers and return them to untreated sea water. I do that while I am dipping corals the beneficial critters will survive.

 

[oxford]

Well I`m now stumped as I pulled a few out. Brittle stars from what I had known or thought I knew have 5 legs off their body. The ones I`m pulling out all have 6 but same colorings. Anyone know exactly what these starfish are I`m yanking out or if its still a brittle star of some sort.....

Exactly what I have. All came as hitchhikers in my LR. They seem to like hiding out in my LR and in my red gracilaria, but I also occasionally see them on the glass or riding a current until they can grab a rock or snail (or my finger) as they pass by. They are fun to watch and are great for cleanup.

They eat just about anything I toss in, but their favorite foods are of the "meaty bits" variety. My rocks "grow" legs as soon as anything meaty hits the water. As for the legs, 6 is the prevalent number, but I've seen everything from 2-7.