Freaky Wierd- Brittle star ATTACK!

[corals b 4 bills]

I came home this evening and saw 8 snail shells in the back of the tank, then I looked at my wifes new one day old 2 inch purple linkia star fish and all of the ends of it's tenticles were eaten off! I turned to tell the wife the bad news when she came over to look at it when we saw my one year old 16 inch long green brittle star reaching from around some rocks and lifting up this poor little linkia to it's demond lair. I rescued it just in time, but the beast escaped. WHAT THE HELL! Iv'e had brittle stars for years-raised them from 4inch to 20 inch then donated them to my LFS and never had them commit murder, Now, how do I catch this thing without ripping every tenticle off?

 

[Mishap]

Toss in a Harlequin shrimp?

 

[corals b 4 bills]

A small harlequin will take down a 16 inch long brittle star?

 

[Mr31415]

Yeah here is a tip - move that brittle star to a predator tank. I did the same - as it ate my Feather Star. Here is a description from Ronald L Shimek:

"The Green Brittle Star - One of the most voracious invertebrates found in captivity; not suitable for reef aquariums.
...
This predatory brittle star forages for food at night and has been documented to eat firefishes, damselfishes, mandarinfishes, blennies, small gobies, cleaner wrasses, cleaner shrimps, and crabs".

 

[GinaSofia]

your brittle star was most likely just eating or trying to eat what was already ill or dieing.How did you acclimate the Purple Linckia?It may have been suffering from osmotic shock after a poor acclimation.

 

[corals b 4 bills]

Auh man thats why my new sand sifting goby is missing, any ideas how to get the little bugger without mutilating it as it grabs every rock as it comes out?

 

[Mr31415]

Nope I disgress. The Green Brittle Star is a predator and it actively attacks other smaller fish and crustaceans. It is COMPLETELY different to any other brittle star. I have it now in my predator tank and have seen how it attacks small crabs and shrimps. It will swallow a 1.5" krill whole without blinking.

 

[Mr31415]

Well I picked mine up by hand - it was scary as hell since I did that after seeing how it attacked my feather star but as long as you keep your fingers away from the central disk I think it would be OK. Lure him with a piece of krill in to the open then gently grab a tentacle.

I love mine - but not in my reef aquarium. They are awesome in my predator tank.

 

[DrBegalke]

Depending on how big the star is, and how much space is available, you can place a jar (or other container) on the bottom with food inside that the star likes... wait awhile and it should come out (do this at night) and you can catch it then.

 

[corals b 4 bills]

Here's a pic of him at 6 months old.

 

[GinaSofia]

I've never read of a Brittle-even a Green one-killing another starfish.Fish,yes.Crabs/Snails,yes-Another star,no.

 

[Mr31415]

Well I have not just read it, I saw it happening with my own two eyes.

 

[wrassie86]

I retired my large green brittle star to my sump a few years ago.beside fish and snails,mine will eat soft corals as fast as i can put them in.he really likes xenia.

 

[musty baby]

he really likes xenia.

Finally someone says something nice about them!

 

[snslarison]

I saw a brittle star eating snails in a friends tank. Their pretty brutal once they get a taste for them.

 

[stereomandan]

Cool thread. I didn't know they were so vicious either.

ryansholl, I agree. I wish I could get one and program it only to eat certain patches of xenia and GSP's.

Dan

 

[Mr31415]

Just remember - this is only the Green Brittle Star (Ophiarachna spp.). the others AFAIK are really just scavengers.

 

[Nabber86]

Ours is almost a foot across. Just feed the beast a couple of times a week with a piece of shrimp. They are opportunistic and lazy. If well fed, it shouldnt bother anything else. Here is what happened to our purple linkia when the evil green one wasnt fed:

and the lil' b*stard himself:

 

[wrassie86]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8404955#post8404955 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stereomandan
Cool thread. I didn't know they were so vicious either.

ryansholl, I agree. I wish I could get one and program it only to eat certain patches of xenia and GSP's.

Dan

I'll send ya mine for free.Xenia is nothing to mine, one big stalk last about 15minutes
Sucks i thought i had him given away about a year ago to a aggresive system,But the people that were picking up corals fogot to take him

 

[dvmsn]

I personally watched one catch and kill a healthy blue damsel. Last one ever to go in my tank.