tiny little brittlestars - bad?

[mdvistnes]

I'd post a photo if I had one, but these tiny little brittle star looking starfish are so tiny.

All over the place in the rocks and base of corals. Most are about 3/4 inch in diameter. Sort of tan with black stripes. I think they are harmless but have always just assumed this. Anyone know what they are? The reason I ask is I notice they accumulate around the base of many of my larger acropora and pocilopora and wondered if they could be choking them off at the base as some of them don't look so good.

Any thoughts?

 

[D to the P]

They are mini brittle stars. Sorry, no fancy name :lol:

They are great little detrivores that hitch hike on live rock. They are completely harmless and do not get very big.

I can't imagine that they are doing anything negative to your coral.

As long as they actually are mini brittle stars

 

[arteaction]

They are mini tiger bristle stars. My daughter gets the owner at the LFS to give them to her every time she sees them in the tanks. She has about 5 now and 2 white ones. The tigers will get large. I had one that was 11" tip to tip but lost him in a tank crash. They really clean well. white ones only get to about 2"
I think she has become a star propagator in her nano. Im interested to see how large they get. Hers are anywhere from 1/4 to 1/2 "
keep them as part of your clean up crew. When they get large sell them to the LFS the large ones Ive seen for bout 25 bucks.

 

[arteaction]

here is a link. banded brittle star or serpent tiger star. http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+528+735&pcatid=735