It seems to me that brittle stars are not as popular today then a couple of years ago. I want to get a scavenger for my tank and I am still thinking about using brittle stars, the beautiful red ones. Are you guys still using brittle stars? Is there a reason I don't see people recommend or talk about these guys as much anymore?
Opinions on brittle stars?
- Thread starter kevindub
- Start date
I was thinking of getting one last year but then decided not to in the end. They are good scavengers but my biggest fear was that the star might also grab one of my fish while they were sleeping. They are known to do that and that's why I personally didn't get one. I didn't want it catching my firefish or mandarin and the likes.
Go ahead and get a brittle. Keep away from the green ones, which catch fish, but not when they are sleeping, and you'll be fine. I really don't buy that catch fish while they are sleeping stuff. What will they hold onto a fish that is seriously objecting to being eaten with? They exude their stomachs over their food. How can they possibly do that to a fish that is startled from a slumber and fighting for life? They are considered scavengers for a reason.
I keep brittles in all my tanks, holding fish or not. I even have a yellow brittle in a 20 long that is just about as long length wise as the tank is and there's no problems.
I keep brittles in all my tanks, holding fish or not. I even have a yellow brittle in a 20 long that is just about as long length wise as the tank is and there's no problems.
Green brittles are predators. They rise up on their legs and make what would resemble a cave...much like catfish do with their mouths gaping open. Then when a fish wanders in they will drop down while twisting, effectively making a wall of arms that the fish can't get out of.
And let's be realistic here. It's not like a 4 inch green brittle is going to take out a 4 inch tang. These obviously have to be very small fish for something like a brittle star to take down.
And let's be realistic here. It's not like a 4 inch green brittle is going to take out a 4 inch tang. These obviously have to be very small fish for something like a brittle star to take down.
Personally I would go for something like a tongan nassarius, mini brittle stars, or mini-hermits for scavenging ability. I have a black brittlestar (which looks like pure evil!) and it doesn't do any harm, although I wonder how much scavenging ability they really have...
best way to deal with uneatten food, stop feeding so much.
best way to deal with uneatten food, stop feeding so much.
I would get one. i have one and does wonders in my tank. every night it cleans off the sand of red algea( no skimmer yet) and it doesnt bother my corals . as far as fish are conserned i would be very supprised to see it getting a fish unless it was starving
I would get one. i have one and does wonders in my tank. every night it cleans off the sand of red algea( no skimmer yet) and it doesnt bother my corals . as far as fish are conserned i would be very supprised to see it getting a fish unless it was starving
Personally, I don't trust them. I had three in my old tank and I'm convinced one of them was a cold-blooded killer. My experience was that they tended to prey on the new additions to the tank, as they were under stress or least aware of where to avoid attack. I think there are plenty of other good critters out there that are guaranteed not to munch on something with fins.
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