Green Brittle Star reef safe?

[samurai9]

I ordered a green brittle star under the notion that it would help out with detritus. Instead, it has tried to eat my yellow polyps and giant feather duster

! Anyone know if this is typical behavior? I thought all brittle stars had good reputations in reefs! It is pretty big too, about 6-7 inches in diameter. The feather duster has glued itself to a rock under the sand, so it is safe, but the system is new, and I plan to add soft corals. If it doesn't change its ways, I am going to give it the lfs, along with the hermits.

 

[Anonymous]

Green stars eat everything.

Which hermits are you having trouble with? I have scarlets (they have yellow eye stalks, reds don't) and blue legs. The scarlets are fantastic, but blue legs are murderers.

 

[samurai9]

i have scarlets and blue legs. They turn the sand bed into poop city. Have you had any experience with green brittle stars?

 

[reefmutt1]

I have 2 green brittles in my reef tank the only thing that has been harrassed was my flame scallop. I have several soft corals and as far as i can tell nothing has been mollested...I also have 2 feather dusters and the only thing that nibbles on them is my red sea sailfin...

[ December 26, 2001: Message edited by: reefmutt ]</p>

 

[Anonymous]

I have witnessed green brittle stars eating xenia on multiple occasions. Also, they grow way too large, IMO.

 

[Anonymous]

Had a green brittle star, and after it wiped out a whole colony of xenia, I had it no more...

Peace,

Chip

 

[Joey1]

I had to return a green brittle star a few months ago,as I caught it eating a fish...It was great looking,but huge...about 7 inches across.Now,I know what you're thinking,the fish was probably already dead,the star was only doing it's job..no way!I literally saw the fish,healthy as ever,swimming around,active,no problems eating,10 minutes before I walked back by and saw fins in the beast's mouth!Needless to say,he was a pain to drag out of the rockwork,as he was so stuffed that he didn't want to move,looking like a golfball with legs...I would take him back,or keep him well fed! Joey

 

[sally1]

Green/brown brittle stars are NOT reef safe IMO. I had a brown brittle star that killed my jawfish...I would return the starfish if I were you.