Evil Brittle Star?

[dansemacabre]

So, my friend has this brittle star. It has been eating fish. Four of them, to be exact. 2 clarkii clownfish and a cardinal. The other I forget. I was just wondering...is this a true brittle star? It hides in the LR, and apparently at night it snares the fish and devours most of the body. I usually see them recommended, so I'm just wondering, in the event I end up with one. :-\

 

[ReefLady]

If it's an Olive Green Brittle (Ophiarachna incrassata), they are noted fish predators. This is the only Brittle star known to be _not safe_ in a reef tank.

 

[specialk]

If it is not the olive green brittle than I would say the fish die and the brittle eats them after they are dead.

Kaye

 

[dansemacabre]

No, it's snaring them in the LR and eating them. The yellow tang and the flame angel are too large and quick for it to get them. It's only getting fish under 3-4" Thanks for the note though on the Olive Green, ReefLady...I'll be sure to look out for it. =]

 

[jamal-188]

Reeflady,

So any other brittle/serpent star is okay except the Oilve green ones? I would love to get a few more and I guess I should get rid of my olive green one even though he hasn't done any harm in the 6+ months I've had him.

It's actually kind of funny, my LFS( I listen to .001% of what they tell me) has all there brittle/serpent stars labeled as predator/fish eater except the olive green one which is labeled as "reef-safe"

 

[mrpope]

is this the "bad" olive green brittle star

 

[mrpope]

Oops, I couldnt get the pic to upload, oh well. Is the brittle star you are talking about green with yellow spikes and a relatively small green disk? If so then ive got one.

 

[HoopsGuru]

I would specifically go by the scientific name above instead of trying to interpret a starfish being "reef-safe" by the color...to much room for error. If your LFS can't tell you exactly what it is then I wouldn't buy one, if they are respectable they will know what their livestock is (not to say things don't get mislabeled too though).