Green Brittle Star

Scubajoe1 · 01/25/2015, 09:52 AM

Hey guys,
I got a green brittle star as part of my clean up crew but it likes to hang out near my bubble tip anemone and try and take its food. Does not seem to have any major affect but does make it close up while it's feeling around for food. Just go with the flow here? Should I try to coax the brittle star to another place in the tank? I don't think that's going to be an easy task.

Joe

Timfish · 01/25/2015, 10:02 AM

It's going to hang out where it will find food. I really like them and have them in several of my tanks. They are also very long lived, in my tanks I have several that are over 17 years ols and considering their size when purchased I would not be surprised if they were already 5 - 10 years old at that time but that's guess work. Some people claim they will hunt and kill fish but I've had small fish cohabitate for years with them, I'm inclined to think in most cases where a brittle star was found munching on a body the fish had a problem and the brittle star was just doing it's job.

http://youtu.be/PfUxLSJBVr0

julie180 · 01/25/2015, 01:46 PM

Feed the star before the anemone. Your not going to keep it away if there food to be had.

01/25/2015, 09:52 AM	#1
Scubajoe1 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 409	Green Brittle Star Hey guys, I got a green brittle star as part of my clean up crew but it likes to hang out near my bubble tip anemone and try and take its food. Does not seem to have any major affect but does make it close up while it's feeling around for food. Just go with the flow here? Should I try to coax the brittle star to another place in the tank? I don't think that's going to be an easy task. Joe

01/25/2015, 10:02 AM	#2
Timfish Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,985	It's going to hang out where it will find food. I really like them and have them in several of my tanks. They are also very long lived, in my tanks I have several that are over 17 years ols and considering their size when purchased I would not be surprised if they were already 5 - 10 years old at that time but that's guess work. Some people claim they will hunt and kill fish but I've had small fish cohabitate for years with them, I'm inclined to think in most cases where a brittle star was found munching on a body the fish had a problem and the brittle star was just doing it's job. http://youtu.be/PfUxLSJBVr0 __________________ "Our crystal clear aquaria come nowhere close to the nutrient loads that swirl around natural reefs" Charles Delbeek

01/25/2015, 01:46 PM	#3
julie180 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Raymore, MO Posts: 2,556	Feed the star before the anemone. Your not going to keep it away if there food to be had.