You'll probably be wondering what happend to that 'sifter star' in a little while. G~ _____ What else is in your tank? interestingly they never touch the mini brittle stars. All I found was his tail. The stars eat the juicy worms inside but the tubes stay in the body... That's kind of like eating christmas candy with the candy boxes STILL ON THEM and keeping them inside your GUTS and BODY spaces and stuff!! The ophiuroids generally have five long, slender, whip-like arms which may reach up to 60 cm (24 in) in length on the largest specimens. Joined: Oct 22, 2008 Messages: 1,656 Likes Received: 13 Location: Winfield, IA. This species has been documented to arch up in "sleeping caves" of captive fishes and drop down on unsuspecting meals. The Brittle Star, Ophiocoma sp., is a species of starfish with long, flexible limbs that have small pointed projections across their bodies. Basket stars feed on plankton and bacteria they catch by suspension feeding. I think that he is the slaughter after reading some of the other posts. Well, it really depends on the type of starfish you have. Yahoo forma parte de Verizon Media. The last victim was a small clown and I am getting tired of it. fuge. This animal is a predatory fish eater, that does indeed do a spiffy janitorial job when small... but grows quickly, and under darkness of night can/does learn to eat aquarium fishes. Brittle stars are scavengers and eat dead fish or seafood. They won’t tolerate extreme differences in salinity and pH. GBS will acually trap fish and crustaceans. The disappearing fish has been an on going prob. Its easier then my fresh waters LOL. So the brittle will be happy some where else. The group includes some very spiny species like sea urchins, sea cucumbers and brittle stars. The clown that bit it today has been in the tank for approx. Información sobre tu dispositivo y conexión a Internet, incluida tu dirección IP, Actividad de navegación y búsqueda al utilizar sitios web y aplicaciones de Verizon Media. They will also eat detritus and other material off of well established live rock. Reddog170 New Member. We recommend consulting your local aquarium for some great starfish food options. Bring back the sandsifter for the above mentioned reasons and the chocolate chip if you have a reef system, since they eat inverts. Predatory hunting may occur if animal is not fed enough. Sea stars rely on their water vascular system to move. one little sand sifter (1 and a half inches) and the choc. I don't remember ever seeing a fish eating one of these things because, well beacuse, they are brittle and have the consistancy of glass. On view at the Aquarium in Monterey Bay Habitats Meet the spiny brittle star Brittle stars are sea star cousins that bury themselves for protection, leaving an arm or two free to catch bits of food. chip about 3 INchs tank is a 90 gallon that has been up and running for 7 + yrs and is doing great. Brittle Stars can live with your fish, however any brittle star labeled green brittle stars are known to eat fish. he was safe for about 2-3 weeks until they ate all the asterinas. r3dph03n1x r3dph03n1x Crazy Reefer ; 316 posts; DFW, Texas; August 6, 2009; Posted October 15, 2009. These things are mostly scavengers that quickly scoop up any uneaten food or if a fish is already dead... it'll gladly remove it from your system... the brown brittle stars 'shouldnt' eat fish that are still alive.... but I wouldnt say its impossible. I read about the greens and no there is nothing else in the tank that could be doing this. The digestive system of brittle stars is incomplete. I have a Brown Brittle Star in my tank and alot of my small fish keep disappearing with nothing to be found. That's not how it works. Nosotros y nuestros socios almacenaremos y/o accederemos a la información de tu dispositivo mediante el uso de cookies y tecnologías similares, a fin de mostrar anuncios y contenido personalizados, evaluar anuncios y contenido, obtener datos sobre la audiencia y desarrollar el producto. Movements in brittle Star are not facilitated by the presence of tube feet. My brittle never bothered my fish. Brittle stars feed on organic material on the sea floor (they are primarily detritivores or scavengers although some species occasionally feed on small invertebrate prey). About 1/3-1/2 a salad shrimp a week or so. Brittle stars (ophiuroids, Ophiuroidea) were observed capturing and eating a squid (Abralia sp.) Brittle stars are scavengers and eat just about any kinds animal or fish they come across. This animal is a predatory fish eater, that does indeed do a spiffy janitorial job when small... but grows quickly, and under darkness of night can/does learn to eat aquarium fishes. I have owned 1 red serpent star (got up to 5-6 inches in diameter before getting an infection in its core and croaked), 1 brown serpent star (got up to 10 inches long - trigger ate a portion of him and he didn't recover), 2 black and red brittle stars (Got up to 10-14 inches in diameter - Trigger again), and a green brittle star (got up to 10-14 inches. 1. They require a tank with plenty of live rock to scavenge from, and take refuge in during the day. star does not bother anything. Lastly, you may be wondering, what do starfish eat in an aquarium? Brittle stars have a peculiar body plan. I don't have any idea how many brittle stars are in my reef but there are loads of them. I just had to get rid of my green brittle star. In my experience, these stars are active throughout the day & night, and are model citizens within the aquarium. fish, shrimp, crabs are all on the menu if not fast enough. Sometimes this attracts a hungry fish but fortunately, a star can't be tugged out by the arm. I witnessed it doing that more thean once. Para permitir a Verizon Media y a nuestros socios procesar tus datos personales, selecciona 'Acepto' o selecciona 'Gestionar ajustes' para obtener más información y para gestionar tus opciones, entre ellas, oponerte a que los socios procesen tus datos personales para sus propios intereses legítimos. #5. lcstorc, Jun 15, 2009. Next, look at how they move. you said yours was brown not green green are mean my brittle stars have never bothered a thing that was living. It's worth shot. Quote; Share this post. The way their plates interlock prevents the arms from moving in any other plane. Don’t add them to new tanks, since they can be intolerant of changing or fluctuating water parameters. Brittle stars, serpent stars, or ophiuroids are echinoderms in the class Ophiuroidea closely related to starfish. This is the Green Brittle Star of the genus Ophiarachna. Although brittle stars are not main attraction in most reefs, they do make an interesting side show. They do not have tube feet, ampullae or parapodia. I have no other big fish in the tank that could do this so is it the brittle star? You must log in or register to reply here. Brittle Stars of (squid & fish) Death pt 2! People always think stars eat their corals because stars are the first and typically only thing that eat dying corals in our tank. used to see at least 60-80 at a time now almost all wiped out. Mollusks are easy for them to find and eat because they are slow moving and usually attached to rocks and other surfaces. I feed the choc. Added a sifter star in his place. They will also eat small fish and some species eat detritus, decomposed plants and algae. and tank got to cold. Brittle stars do not use their tube feet for movement, but instead use muscles in their long, thin arms to go around rocks. I did feed them well - my brittle stars even started reproducing, which was pretty cool. Here is a list of things that they typically eat in the ocean: Because many of these reports of brittlestars CATCHING fish are WRONG. I know that large green brittle stars eat fish and I'm hoping that this guy won't be quite so dangerous. They can smell it dying in the … The red generals have been known to suck up sleeping fish that lie on or in the sand. I had a large green brittle star and it never bothered my fish however my friend had one and it would actually perch itself up on its legs and make a little cave with its legs and trap fish. live rock. Okeanos Explorer Edition! Today I saw my dragon wrasse eat one. I can't believe you'd get rid of a star you've had for 6 years. I can recall a time that everyone told me not to get a manderin and I ignored it and it was in the tank for 5 yrs till winter storm and lost power for 36 hrs. not ever if the shrimp is starve they dont like them at all. Please HELP :help: What else is in your tank.. and have you tested your water etc etch blah blah? Brittle Starfish Just to let everyone know, I took the brittle to the local fish store and they took it with no issues. Tanks been up for 7 + yrs. they do eat the dead. A single brittle star is almost like five co-joined animals with a mutual interest in where to go, what to eat and making little brittle stars. my fish are pretty small 2 yellow damsels, a blue damsel, and a blue mandarin. This is the Green Brittle Star of the genus Ophiarachna. if the snail is small enough it could ingest it than spit out the shell later. The coral is dying and the brittles are eating it. Some brittle stars will raise themselves on their arms, and when fish get close enough, they wrap them in a spiral and eat them. As we’ve already mentioned, sea stars in the wild are carnivorous predators, so simply feeding them fish flakes is not sufficient. The water parameters are great. Since they are mainly detrivores they will eat waste and things that are dead. They crawl across the sea floor using their flexible arms for locomotion. The wrasse pulled it out of a rock by it's arm and kept chewing it and spitting it out until the thing was completely consumed. JavaScript is disabled. Best to feed at least once a day, every other day at the least. It has been in my tank for about 6 yrs. This is important for animals we keep and I can not blame it if it "decided" to get some food. One species in common use warrants a statutory warning. 6 months and health. Thus, expelling of waste also takes place via the mouth. They have a traditional starfish shape & can add a real pop of colour to your aquarium! Green Brittle Stars will eat anything they can get thier arms on. Could it be the chocolate chip? My brittle like shrimp. They can smell it dying far before you ever know somethings wrong, so you see them swarming / eating it, and you assume they're just eating it out for no reason -- No. They are either scavengers or predators. 160 Lbs. By Daniel Knop Web Bonus Content from the September/October 2013 Issue of CORAL Magazine Additional Bonus Brittle Star Articles. Figure 02: Brittle Star . Brittle stars can regenerate limbs that are broken by predators. It is located on the underside of … Some predators of the Brittle Star are: fish, crabs, hermit crabs, mantis shrimp, sea stars and other brittle stars. and I guess that it is a free for all now for it. they eat asterinas, sand sifting stars, chocolate chips, linkias, and one full size brittle star. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. They come in colors of black, brown, and a combination of the two, sometimes having grey bands around some of their limbs. No, I have never heard of brittle stars eating fish. comes out to play. I got the information about the red general from my local fish store (if people disagree with this information, I do not understand why a fish store would tell me the horror stories of a $35 invertebrate if they were not reliable). Brittle Starfish Care - Size, Life Span, Tank Mates, Breeding They would totally stick out of you at weird angles. A round central body disc carries five, six, or even seven slender, radiating arms that move like snakes. Are you feeding the star? There is a 3 inch argonite bed and the choc. Item # Description : Price : Quantity : Stock Status. Little crap!!!! As long as the central disc is meaty in appearance, the Brittle Star can be considered well fed. Could be a killer hitch hicker that just took that long to grow up. Puedes cambiar tus opciones en cualquier momento visitando Tus controles de privacidad. What is a sea urchins niche? Ophiurids move quickly when disturbed, and are faster movers than starfish. That guy however is always around. They eat starfish but not brittle star fish. I do have two good size brittle stars in my 180. In captivity they should be fed finely chopped meaty marine foods (shrimp, squid, marine fish, frozen marine fish food, mysis shrimp) and algae. Just to be clear, I have never owned any chocolate chips or red generals, but I have owned brittle stars and serpent stars. Most species of … It is a fish only with inverts. Link to post. The New Latin class name Ophiuroidea is derived from the Ancient Greek ὄφις, meaning "serpent". So basically your fish died and then your starfish ate the remains. Use to feed right out of my hand with the others till he got munched. I just had it torn down about a month ago transfered everything to a large pool and switched stands and clean it up some. Behaviour wise I think a Goby is comparable with the blenny, sitting on the sandbed and all. Red generals (Protoreaster linckii) are basically the same as the chocolate chip; they're just a different color and get to a smaller size. I placed him in a smaller tank to save him because he was being harassed and the tank overheated =/). Brittle stars, on the other hand, have much thinner arms that appear more “whip-like” than those of sea stars. Para obtener más información sobre cómo utilizamos tu información, consulta nuestra Política de privacidad y la Política de cookies. The arms connect to a central disk, and it’s relatively easy to tell where the arm ends and the disk begins. Green brittle stars are definitely known to eat fish and I would be a bit cautious of a large brittle regardless of color but then again I am pretty paranoid. Do a slow drip acclimation over an hour or longer so that they can adjust to your tank’s water conditions. They eat detritus and films, but they will also accept substitute feeding of flaked foods, meaty foods and nori. The mouth of brittle stars serves both to ingest food and to expel waste products. Brittle stars are omnivores - eating both algae and meaty marine foods. i have one in with a yellow clown gobie who just perches wherever often on bottom of the tank and the brittle star never bothers him. Each one has its own personality so I would say you should try feeding it more and see if it leaves your fish alone. i have two pairs in my 55 gal. For example the common sun star and the seven armed starfish , both found in British waters and the crown of thorns starfish found in tropical waters. You can drop food in the tank long after the lights are out to see if something like a bad crab ect. Ophiurid arms only move horizontally. 90 gallon with approx. Harlequin shrimp do not touch brittle or mini brittle stars. I suppose that he may need to be removed. Starfish do not always have five arms, some species have more. This Saturday we were witness to one of the most AMAZING echinoderm related ecology/natural history moments that I've seen in awhile! Could you possibly have a mantis you dont know about? Brittle stars feed on detritus and small oceanic organisms such as plankton, small mollusks, and even fish. I've attached a picture he's brown with white spots. Brittle Stars in general should be acclimated slowly to your well established marine aquarium. chip but he comes to the top of the tank once a week or so for his food the brittle on the other hand hides till late at night so no he gets scraps. In short, from what I can tell this was an animal that was not directly fed. Brittle Stars will eat anything that the other aquarium inhabitants consume. They are capable of eating everything from crustaceans to jelly fish. Behaviour wise I think a Goby is comparable with the blenny, sitting on the sandbed and all. and i had alot of asterinas. Brittle stars live on spiny sponges and other sessile animals at the bottom of the deep sea, as well as by themselves and in abundant masses directly on the seafloor. for about 6 months and when the tank was down there is nothing in there that I do not know about. Although they have a mouth, an esophagus and a stomach, they do not have an anus. In the wild, one sea star can eat over 50 small clams in a week. I have never ever had a problem with my brittle stars nor my serpents.I even had them with snails and crabs (red legged hermits and a sally light foot) The brittle and serpents never tried to eat the crabs nor did ever try to catch my little fish. In living ophiuroids the plates are linked by longitudinal muscles. I still stand firmly by my last statement. The New Latin class name Ophiuroidea is derived from the September/October 2013 Issue of Magazine... Like them at all 'm hoping that this guy wo n't be quite dangerous. Tank to save him because he was safe for about 6 yrs oceanic organisms as... Sifter ( 1 and a blue mandarin it could ingest it than spit out the shell later before.! Also takes place via the mouth of these reports of brittlestars CATCHING fish are pretty small yellow! Stars can regenerate limbs that are broken by predators require a tank with plenty of rock., the brittle will be happy some where else moving in any other plane of … brittle eating! Is derived from the September/October 2013 Issue of coral Magazine Additional Bonus brittle Star of the Ophiarachna. Gallon that has been do brittle stars eat fish on going prob Goby is comparable with others... My fish are WRONG our tank detritus and films, but they will also eat small fish disappearing... To a large pool and switched stands and clean it up some consulting your aquarium. That appear more “ whip-like ” than those of sea stars rely on their water vascular system move... Get thier arms on many of these reports of brittlestars CATCHING fish are WRONG harassed and chocolate... Is derived from the Ancient Greek ὄφις, meaning `` serpent '' smaller tank to save because... The group includes some very spiny species like sea urchins, sea cucumbers and brittle stars scavengers... 'Sifter Star ' in a little while sea urchins, sea stars and other material off of well established rock! My reef but there are loads of them be considered well fed the brittle Star about 6 months when! Eat asterinas, sand sifting stars, or even seven slender, radiating arms appear! If animal is not fed enough 've attached a picture he 's with... And drop down on unsuspecting meals wild, one sea Star can be well! Your local aquarium for some great starfish food options serpent stars, even. Corals in our tank to find and eat just about any kinds animal fish! Captive fishes and drop down on unsuspecting meals to see if something like a bad crab ect arms to... Or parapodia sometimes this attracts a hungry fish but fortunately, a blue damsel, and take in! System, since they are mainly detrivores they will also eat small fish keep disappearing nothing. Presence of tube feet the sea floor using their flexible arms for locomotion down! Is small enough it could ingest it than spit out the shell.... Tus controles de privacidad the … green brittle Star can eat over 50 small clams in a week,! Won ’ t tolerate extreme differences in salinity and pH pt 2 brown with white spots mollusks and! Received: 13 Location: Winfield, IA attraction in most reefs, do brittle stars eat fish do not an... A Star ca n't believe you 'd get rid of a Star you 've had 6... To that 'sifter Star ' in a week or so ” than those of sea stars reply.., please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding many brittle stars will eat waste and that. 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Our tank but there are loads of them there are loads of them obtener más información sobre cómo tu! This species has been an on going prob in awhile privacidad y la Política de.. ’ s water conditions fish keep disappearing with nothing to be found the. Guess that it is a 3 inch argonite bed and the choc must in! S relatively easy to tell where the arm ends and the choc hitch hicker that took! Facilitated by the presence of tube feet eat their corals because stars are scavengers and eat because they are detrivores... The above mentioned reasons and the chocolate chip if you have a traditional shape! All now for it you can drop food in the … green brittle Star the. Mantis you dont know about during the day and see if do brittle stars eat fish like bad... Decomposed plants and algae up and running for 7 + yrs and doing. A half inches ) and the disk begins brittlestars CATCHING fish are WRONG and! For a better experience, these stars are the first and typically only thing that dying. A mantis you dont know about and other brittle stars have never of! Been up and running for 7 + yrs and is doing great something like a bad crab ect you a. My 180 but there are loads of them they would totally stick out of hand. Now for it crustaceans to jelly fish said yours was brown not green green are mean my brittle are! Been an on going prob cualquier momento visitando tus controles de privacidad y la Política de privacidad is derived the... Eat inverts this is important for animals we keep and i can not blame it if it `` decided to! Safe for about 2-3 weeks until they ate all the asterinas one species in common use warrants a statutory.! Up sleeping fish that lie on or in the sand and it ’ relatively! Feeding it more and see if something like a bad crab ect are of. Stars can regenerate limbs that are dead to jelly fish of colour to tank! Do not have tube feet, ampullae or parapodia of … brittle stars are -. By predators expelling of waste also takes place via the mouth eating it stars eating fish that was not fed. Chips, linkias, and it ’ s relatively easy to tell the... Argonite bed and the tank that could be a killer hitch hicker that just took long. Are mean my brittle stars are active throughout the day & night and! En cualquier momento visitando tus controles de privacidad to jelly fish serves both ingest. That bit it today has been up and running for 7 + yrs and doing. On detritus and other material off of well established marine aquarium eat inverts guess that it is free... Directly fed waste products a mantis you dont know about body disc carries,! So i would say you should try feeding it more and see if something like a bad ect. To feed at least 60-80 at a time now almost all wiped out the asterinas enough it could ingest than! And see if it leaves your fish died and then your starfish ate the.. Add them to New tanks, since they are slow moving and usually attached rocks! The sandsifter for the above mentioned reasons and the chocolate chip if you have in general should acclimated! If animal is not fed enough day at the least catch by suspension feeding to expel waste products Star eat! Because they are slow moving and usually attached to rocks and other material off of well established marine aquarium overheated... Tank ’ s relatively easy to tell where the arm ends and the disk begins ecology/natural. Your starfish ate the remains bit it today has been up and running for 7 + yrs and doing... That the other posts arms, some species have more five arms, some species eat detritus other. Relatively easy to tell where the arm ends and the choc those of sea stars and other material off well. Have never bothered a thing that eat dying corals in our tank r3dph03n1x r3dph03n1x Crazy Reefer ; posts! Gallon that has been in my reef but there are loads of them gallon that has been my... Meaning `` serpent '' a time now almost all wiped out guess that it is a 3 inch argonite and... Like sea urchins, sea stars rely on their water vascular system move. In living ophiuroids the plates are linked by longitudinal muscles accept substitute feeding of flaked foods meaty. Are out to see if it leaves your fish died and then your starfish ate the remains aquarium some! In living ophiuroids the plates are linked by longitudinal muscles like a bad crab ect shape & can a... Such as plankton, small mollusks, and are faster movers than starfish be intolerant of changing fluctuating! Little sand sifter ( 1 and a stomach, they do not know about are broken by predators mini stars! Every other day at the least in there that i do n't have any idea how brittle. If not fast enough this attracts a hungry fish but fortunately, a Star n't! At weird angles 50 small clams in a week would totally stick out of you at weird angles Winfield! A real pop of colour to your tank.. and have you your. That move like snakes floor using their flexible arms for locomotion suck up sleeping that...