The mystery of the disappearing Colini Angel   11/19/06
Hi crew,
I have really enjoyed reading through your website- which has provided a huge host of information for us relative newcomers to the hobby. So a big thank you for all you do.
<Welcome>
I have a 6-month old reef system:
450litres (120galUS)
70kg (154lbs) live rock with a reasonable amount of growth of stuff on them.
3 x 150Watt MH 14000K bulbs
2 x actinic blue tubes
V2Skim 1200 Protein skimmer
Large canister filter with ceramic discs
Heater
(calcium reactor on its way)
Parameters:
SG 1.023
Temp 25degC
Ammonia/nitrites nil
Nitrates 5ppm
Ph 8.0-8.1
Calcium 375ppm
The tank contains:
2 x Percula Clowns and a poorly but alive BT Anemone (rescued from LFS tank- probably a mistake)
1 x Copper Band Butterfly fish that eats anything and is really a character
1 x Powder Brown Tang
A few Emerald Crabs
7-8 Scarlet Hermits
5 x Cleaner Shrimps
Turbo Snails
Various softies and a few LPS and my trial SPS
12cm Maxima Clam (which is very cool)
Derasa Clam
2 x Serpent Stars
<Mmm... the chief suspects here>
On Monday I saw a 3 1/2" Colini Angel at the LFS and the owner was a little concerned it wasn't eating.
<Is a large specimen... too big for collection if I had been in the water>
I went home, read up what I could about this rare and difficult fish, then went back to the LFS, took pity on it and took it home. To cut a long story short, I stupidly put it straight into my main tank in the hope it would eat off the LR, which it appeared to do, taking up residence in a small rock cave
<Another clue>
near the substrate. It was very shy and didn't come out to feed but I thought just give it time and it might become bolder.
Anyway, it didn't really explore much. The Copperband was a bit nosey, but didn't hassle it. The Clowns and Tang left it alone completely. I fed it a little with target feeding of a mixture of mysis, enriched brine shrimp, fresh Nori and angel mix frozen, each morning and evening. I saw it eat some of the food. Unfortunately, the cave then filled up with hermit crabs and the emeralds looking for an easy feed!
<Likely so>
And now it has completely disappeared. I have dismantled as much of the LR as I can without causing too much damage and stressing the other fish, but it is absolutely nowhere to be seen. I've looked around the tank in case it has jumped.
<Good>
I've used a torch/flashlight to explore the caves and other hiding places, and it has just gone. Weird and scary. I've never had a disappearing fish before.
So, the questions...
1. Do you think it might just be hiding very, very well?
<Not likely, but a small possibility>
2. If so, do I need to try to find it, to coax it out to feed?
<Mmm, no, I would not... if it's still in there, it will come out when/if it wants to>
3. Could I have a hitchhiker, such as a mantis (if so, it would be the first fish take- but we've had some turbo snails taken- probably by the crabs)?
<Yes... though I suspect the Brittlestar/s>
4. If it has died, how essential is it to remove the body from the tank, or will the clean up crew, well, clear it up?
<This latter... it's very likely already gone... you might discern a slight "blip" in your measures of nitrogenous metabolites... might not...>
Dismantling the LR will be a real
drag, as the corals are all Milliputted in.
<Like this term>
Thanks so much for all you do for us hobbyists!
Best wishes,
Steve Spicer
Milton Keynes, UK
<Mmm, please do read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/brittlestarcompfaqs.htm
This Centropyge might have perished from "stress" alone... and the consequences would be about the same as you relate... the opportunistic piscivorous invertebrates would consume it, the decomposing microbes in your system do the rest... readily/quickly... Not to worry re chemical, physical consequences in a system of this volume, gear-make-up, maintenance. Bob Fenner>

Invert ID/Diseased Cardinal Fish - 09/09/06
Crew,
<<Alex>>
Thanks for all the help, both by answering my specific questions and having all kinds of answers to everything almost!
<<Indeed...and you're quite welcome>>
My question is really three.  First:  I know that green brittle stars, O. incrassata, are bad with fish small enough to eat.
<<Very often so>>
I have a full-grown A. ocellaris in a mixed garden reef tank, and picked up a brittle star as a detritivore.  Any idea how large of a star could potentially catch a fish the size of an ocellaris?
<<Hmm, the "other" species of brittle stars are generally quite safe with fish (there could always be the "exception"), but I would say any Ophiuroid the size of your hand and up could capture and consume small fish if it chose to do so>>
Also, are there any other species that look similar to incrassata, and any idea how to differentiate them to tell which is which?
<<Not really...but if you stick to the "brown" brittle stars you'll be fine>>
He's only been in there a couple days, and I can pretty easily return him (I know where he spends most of his time, so an ambush shouldn't be too hard).
<<If the star is not O. incrassata I wouldn't be concerned...else yes, do remove it>>
Next:  I'm thinking it might be tough without a picture, but I have a mystery worm of some sort that I can see only at night in the same tank.  It lives in one spot and can be seen every night.  I have a gap in the rockwork where it comes out.  If I go in and look at it after the lights have been out for a couple hours, I can see maybe a 4-inch section of the worm.  It's flexible, not hard at all (or at least so it looks).  I can only see it if I
just use the very edge of a flashlight beam:  anything brighter, it retreats into the rock gap.  When I do use just the dim section of the beam, I can see the section sticking out to the ground.  I can't see anything coming out of the end, like a medusa worm.  The body looks a little similar to that of a featherduster, but it isn't.  When it does retreat, it looks like it retracts into itself and rolls up, but I can't tell very well if that's what
it is actually doing.  I'm thinking it's probably some sort of benign scavenger, but more just curious as to what it is.
<<No idea Alex (can you get a pic?)...but like you, I too expect it to be harmless if not beneficial>>
Last:  This might be an invert ID, but not like the others.  I have a Banggai Cardinal that had shared the tank with the ocellaris until I noticed something on his gills.  I have a 10 gallon tank set up for a mantis shrimp, but at that moment all it had were a few snails, live rock, and live sand.
It's cycled through the diatom bloom stage, and I think I have enough circulation now to avoid a big Cyanobacteria outbreak.  I moved the cardinal over to this tank to watch him and wait until I had an idea what was on him.  His behavior hasn't changed at all:  still spends some time in his caves, eats voraciously, doesn't act nervous or stressed.
<<All reassuring signs>>
The things in question are only on his gills.  Especially looking from behind him, the gill covers look to be sticking out a little bit, but they're not sticking out with open space underneath.  The space in between the cover and body looks almost like some sort of egg.  They're white spots, about 1+ mm in diameter, with several on each side.
<<Hmm...cysts/tumors I wonder?>>
Looking from either side, there are bulging spots on the top of the gill slit.  One side looks like it has one of the same spots in it, the other is more like a small (2-4mm) bulge with a fleshy white color at the very top of the gill slit.  The other is about the same size, just with the spot.  I've watched his gill movement, and it looks completely normal, not labored or fast at all.  From what I can tell, it doesn't look like any sort of fungus, dinoflagellate, or anything else I can tell.  I'm worried that it's something communicable, but can't tell.
<<Neither can I>>
I have a couple other 10 gallons available if it is something that needs treated.  If needed I can get some pictures to help with the ID.
<<Pictures may help.  I would try a temperature and pH adjusted freshwater dip.  You can also dose the hospital tank with Epsom salts (1-teaspoon per ten gallons actual water volume) and iodine.  And do read through our articles/FAQs on marine diseases/parasitic infestation>>
Thanks very much in advance for your help!
Alex
<<Quite welcome.  EricR>>

Lionfish vs. brittle star  7/18/06
Hi there just a quick one would a zebra lion fish eat/attack a brittle star fish. Many thanks for all your help J.C.
<Highly unlikely a Lion would try to ingest a Ophiuroid... not palatable... Bob Fenner>

Star(fish) Wars 6/30/06
HI: <Hi> I live in Florida and I bought at first a greenish brittle star which have not given me any problems. <Often predatory>  I also have 3 sand sifting stars.  I have a 180 gal. tank.  Then I saw this brittle star that its orange, and then the disk on top is orange and it has spots like a cheetah or something like that.  I had not turn on the lights of the tanks the last 3 days, but sun light comes in through the window.  The problem is that this morning I caught the orange brittle star eating one of my sand sifting stars, well I don't know how long it was eating it because it had one of its legs completely inside the mouth, but I separated it from the brittle star and the leg was complete, although a bit stiff, so the sand sifting star left and immediately I fed the brittle star some pellets. I could not believe that one star was eating another one. The day that I bought the orange brittle star I fed it a dead small feeder that I had with my other live feeders and it ate it quick. <Wouldn't use feeders, causes digestive problems and can transmit disease.>  Could you help? I don't know if I should return the star or not. <I would.>  I like it because it adds color to the tank but if its going to eat my other stars, I don't know what to do.  Help please thanks.
<While most stars are not predatory, this one seems to be.  Hard to tell you what type it is but its actions seem to indicate a carnivorous tendency.>
<Chris>

Star(fish) Wars Part II 6/30/06
Thank you very much.  <Sure> I'll return it. <Good move.> Now my sand sifting star is losing her leg. <Watch closely for infection.> Well the orange brittle star is kind of handicap anyways, but I guess I'll return it because I am not going to jeopardize the other stars. <Can't change their nature unfortunately.> If I could send you a picture I would but my mother in law has the camera for her vacation.  Any who, thank you so much for your advice and I guess I'll return it.  
Thanks.
<Sure>
<Chris>

Brittle Star/Compatibility...No Caps Needed In His Text   6/28/06
Hi,
<Hello Craig>
I got one of these from my LFS a week ago and am now worried about my livestock.
<Should learn about what you are buying beforehand.>
I have 2 Percula Clowns, one Yellow Tang, red starfish, 4 hermit crabs, and 4 turbo snails. My tank is 38"x20"x20".  Are all these ok with the green brittle or not.  My smallest percula is about 1" and the brittle has about 1" disk and say 3-4" arms. I now target feed him cockle mussel weekly.  Will this stop him eating stock or am I best removing him.  Would he be ok to live in sump which is 30x15x15"?
<I'd remove the star and place in the sump where he will be fine.  This info is easily found on the Wet Web.  Do learn to use the Google tool, and please, do a spelling/grammar check before sending.  I've corrected 32 errors in this four line query.  We do not have the time to do this and it has to be done before being posted on the dailies.>
Hope you help soon.
<Do read here, and related links.  http://www.wetwebmedia.com/brittlestars.htm>
Thanks in advance,
<You're welcome.  James (Salty Dog)
Craig

Stars and Shrimp 6/17/06
Hi guys...
<Hi>
My clean up crew comprises of 2 skunk cleaner shrimp, 2 blood shrimp, 2 brittle stars and about 10 hermit crabs and 5 turbo snails.  Additionally, I have 1 arrow crab because I like how they look. <<Opportunistic omnivores... RMF>>
My LFS sold me the brittle stars saying they were good for cleaning the back of the tank and the live rock that I couldn't get to, which I admit is true.  However, today I watched a brittle star grab one of the skunk cleaner shrimp, snap its back and then munch it down. <Yikes.>  Is this normal? <For some species.>  And how can I prevent the same fate happening to the other three shrimp in my tank? <Remove the brittle star or the shrimp, otherwise the shrimp's fates are sealed.>
I know there are many types of brittle star and that the green variety can by dangerous to fish, I'm not sure what type my stars are...one is grey in colour and the larger one is brown.  <Could be many different types.>  If I need to replace the stars with less dangerous ones, is the brittle reef safe?
<Many different ones available.  There are several articles on WetWebMedia worth reading on the subject.  They can be found under the marine heading on the main page.>
Thanks in advance,
Ewan
<Chris>

Harlequin Serpent Star Concerns - 06/07/06
I was hoping I might impose on you for a little information.
<<Impose away! <grin> >>
A few weeks ago I got a beautiful harlequin serpent star - to whom I have become quite attached after he wrapped one of his arms around my finger when I was working in my tank.
<<Have kept these before myself...neat and attractive critters>>
Granted, he was probably trying to eat me, but still...
<<Hee!>>
Anyway, also in my tank I have a blue-banded coral shrimp.  I have heard that the regular banded coral shrimp have been known to eat fish, but mine is one of the blue ones, quite small and secretive -and seriously lacking information about on the internet.
<<Indeed...would expect behavior to be quite similar to their larger brethren...just on a smaller scale>>
Last night while peeking in between the rocks, I saw my geometric pygmy hawk perched smack-dab in the middle between the shrimp and the serpent star and neither one of them bothered him.
<<Not uncommon really.  These stars are mostly detritus feeders and usually won't attack a "healthy" fish unless starving.  Keep the star and the shrimp well fed and you likely won't have any issues>>
However, my purple firefish has been MIA for several days, and I assume he has been eaten.
<<Agreed...but probably post-mortem.  Firefish are always "touch and go" in my opinion.  I find them very sensitive/susceptible to stress from just about everything...and likely to go "missing" at any time>>
I had the firefish and the shrimp for quite a while together before adding the serpent star.  I also did what I thought was good research on the serpent start before putting it in my tank.  Would he have eaten my firefish?
<<Is always possible, but I doubt it...unless it found it dead/dying already...is what they "do">>
I see him pulling in Mysis shrimp and eating them, should I supplement him with bigger pieces of shrimp?
<<Probably not necessary if you are feeding a couple times a day, but it wouldn't hurt to supplement the star's diet (the fish and shrimp too!) with a quality pelleted food (New Life Spectrum gets my vote), if you wish>>
Thanks for any help you can give me on him.  He's beautiful and I don't want to have to remove him, but I would also like to keep a purple firefish in my tank as well.
<<You can try the firefish again if you wish, I don't think this serpent star is a large risk>>
Thanks, as usual, for your infinite wisdom.
<<Mmm, if only that were true! <grin>.  Regards, EricR>>

Harlequin Serpent Star Concerns II - 06/07/06
Eric,
<<Rebecca>>
Thanks for your help, but I have great news to report!  Last night I reached into the chamber of my nano that I have converted into a mini refugium (underwater fountain light and a handful of Chaeto) to shake some pods into the tank, and I heard some wild flipping noises.
<<Ahh...>>
Guess who was in my refugium?!
<<Um, little purple dude?>>
So I guess he was in there since Sunday when I did a water change.
<<Indeed>>
He seems OK, other than some tissue loss on the front half of his anal fin (I'm hoping that will grow back quickly).
<<Will likely be fine>>
I'm sure he had plenty to eat in there!
<<Agreed>>
I hope I have some pods left.  This is the least neurotic firefish I've ever had.
<<Lucky>>
I scooped him back into the tank and he went into his cave for a few minutes, then he was back out in full view, ready to eat!
<<Must feel quite comfortable in your setup>>
I'm so glad he didn't get eaten!
<<Me too!>>
Thanks again for your help!
Rebecca L. Dishman
<<Always welcome.  Regards, Eric Russell>>

Serpent Star and Jawfish compatibility  - 05/22/2006
Hello, I've perused the site for a definitive answer, but have only come up with 1) brittle stars and Jawfish can be problems, since both are benthic, but 2) most brittle stars, except the green brittle star are safe with fish.
<Some useful generalizations>
I have 2 tanks, the smaller is a 46G reef tank with several corals (Acropora, Goniopora, Frogspawn, green mushroom, a couple of polyp colonies, Xenia), 2 peppermint shrimp (wurdemanni) named Bubba and Gump,
<Good names>
2 Mithrax
crabs (pinchy & sandy),
<Keep your eye/s on these...>
assorted snails and blue leg hermits, 2 green-blue Chromis, and 1 black banded serpent star named Twinkle (Ophioderma longicaudum, I think). Names are courtesy of the kids.
Since setting up the tank, I have wanted to add a Jawfish. I have a 4" fine sandbed and am planning to raise it with courser materials. But I just read of the concerns about keeping with my starfish.
<Mmm...>
Please verify if it is inappropriate to add Jawfish with the star fish?
<Your system is more than "full up" livestock wise... if it were much larger... by a few times, I would not hesitate to add an Opistognathid>
Another question: when I got the tank there was a large number of small white feather dusters (maybe Bispira brunnea) on the rock. They proliferated all over, on the glass, some of the corals, even in the overflow until....I got the peppermint shrimp. The shrimp were acquired to tackle a growing Aiptasia infestation.
<... don't always stick to assigned tasks...>
They tackled that problem with due speed. But when done with the Aiptasia, I started noticing a decline, then nearly total disappearance of my feather duster population! Is it known that these shrimp eat feather dusters? All of them, or just this particular species? Any other explanation?
<"They come and they go"... could be predation at play here, or senescence alone, a lack of food stuffs... Bob Fenner>

Tiny star 5/8/06
WWM,
Hi, <Hello>
I need a help in possibly identifying a Brittle Star. <ok> The best description I can give you is that it looks just like a Green or Black Brittle; however it is white and fully extended it is about the diameter of a penny.  I'm thinking it is just a baby, <Most likely just a small species.> and maybe has not assumed its adult color.  I found this guy hiding under a rock when I was doing a little maintenance.  I think it is safe to assume that it came with the rock and survived the collection, shipping, & curing, only because I did not purchase it. <Fairly common in quality LR.> I know they are great scavengers, but not knowing its type, I don't know what is the compatibility is with other sea stars.  I have a 3.5" Orange Linckia Star in the same tank, and I am not looking for a fight.  Any ideas?
Thank you
Bryan
<Should be no problem, fairly common LR hitchhiker.  Their numbers tend to wax and wane over time, but are neat little critters and will not hurt anything>
<Chris>

Micro Brittle Stars    4/16/06
I found what looks like about a dozen baby brittle stars hiding in the  green algae in my seahorse tank. I had 2 yellow with green banded brittle stars  in
the tank for a short while, but moved the larger one to another  tank. Should I move the babies to another tank / someplace safer?
<I think it may be a mistake to jump to the conclusion that these are offspring, they may what most aquarists call “micro” brittle stars, smaller versions of the big cousins that rarely reach over an 1”, quite common and good detritivores……..leave them be.>
They are about  1 cm across (tip to tip of legs), so I don't think the seahorses will eat them,
<It is possible but they reproduce quite quickly, I really wouldn’t worry either way, just enjoy.>
but there is a fire shrimp in there as well, although I've never seen him in the algae. What should I be feeding them?
<They will eat detritus and leftovers, if there is a fair amount of them they likely have a food source.>
Would the two starfish reproduce again if they are together, or is this a fluke?
<Likely not a reproduction but another much smaller species.>
Thanks for any advice.
Kim
<Adam J.>

Serpent Star/Murder Rap    4/14/06
What is the probability that a recent string of disappearances in my tanks (which has no other possible predators) are the result of my serpent star
(definitely not a brittle)?  I first lost a cherub angelfish followed weeks later by both a firefish and a royal gamma on the same night.  The fish are
always healthy and acting normal the day before and then gone the following morning.  I first thought they were succumbing to some illness and the
serpent star was eating them but now I'm not so convinced.  <Good reason to think this as large serpent stars are known to capture/eat small fish.  How large is your star?  James (Salty Dog)>
Derek

Re: Serpent Star/Murder Rap  - 04/14/2006
James  <Derek>
I have some good news - I found the firefish this afternoon, it would have been odd even if the serpent star was the culprit to have eaten two fish in a
single night.  <Yes.> To answer your question he is probably about eight inches in diameter with his central disc at about 1.5 inches.  He's definitely large
enough to have gobbled up the royal gamma but my cherub angel was full size 3.2 inches and it seemed a stretch.  If you think he may be a danger I'll
remove him, but what kind of detritivore would be a safer bet to replace him?
<Brittle Stars are good.  Your dealer may possibly take the large serpent star in trade.  Would be beneficial in tanks with larger fish.  Do read here for more insight on clean up crews.  http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marscavart.htm
Thanks  <You're welcome.  James (Salty Dog)>
- Derek

Brittle stars, purple Gorgonia and tangs
Crew
Are any of these brittle stars (O. alexandri, erinaceus, or paucigranulata) known to eat small fish?
<Mmm, not well-known for such, no... but many fishes do predate Ophiothrix species>
My population of green Chromis seem to be decreasing.
Some mornings a couple look stressed with damaged fins, while looking fine the day before. I have several species of Gorgonia and a collection of tangs
(1 purple, 1 unicorn, 1 sailfin, 4 yellow, 2 regal and 1 Atlantic blue).  I've noticed that small chunks of the thick rind (or whatever you call it) are
missing off of the branches of the purple Gorgonia.  Some spots are almost to the center of the branches, exposing the gorgonin or stick.  My question is,
do the fish like Gorgonia or are they trying to clean off algae,
<Perhaps the latter>
or just hungry?  Would it okay to supply them throughout the day with seaweed on a clip?
<Yes, certainly>
I feed these fish a lot everyday besides seaweed.  Or should I eliminate the culprit (which I think is the purple or Atlantic blue tang mostly). My
tank is 500 gallons which allows enough room for their space. they don't appear stressed, but at times will veer each other out of their territory.  I
thought these tangs are supposed to be reef safe. thanks.
<Mmm, all a matter of "relativism"... Do look into/try Spectrum foods as well with your tangs... very nutritious and well-received. Bob Fenner>

Serpent Star Eating Porcelain Crabs? - 12/02/05
Hi!
<<Hello>>
I have bought a nice serpent star two weeks ago. I was not able to ID the species. It is of a "typical" size (about 4" arms extended) and pale gray with darker gray rings on the arms.
<<Possibly Ophiolepis superba>>
I thought it would be completely safe for other inverts.
<<As a rule...yes.>>
I bought it to help stirring the DSB, but it does not seem to go into the sand.
<<No, not a "sand stirrer" as such...but a helpful detritivore all the same.>>
It's hiding more in the rockwork.
<<Tis normal/expected.>>
My two porcelain anemone crabs disappeared since the star is in the tank.
<<Likely a coincidence.>>
I see exo-skeleton parts in a corner of the tank were I often see the star. I thought the crabs maybe just molted, but I start to doubt it... My questions: -Is it possible that the serpent star got them for lunch?
<<Not likely>>
Are they normally crustacean safe?
<<Normally, yes.>>
Is it possible that large brittle star are more into sand than serpent star?
<<Nope...these starfish are not sand-stirrers. A Bullet goby (Phalaena dragon <<Amblygobius phalaena>>) will help with this.>>
And are they safer with crustaceans?
<<Brittle stars are a favorite of mine.>>
Thanks!
Dominique
<<Regards, EricR>>

Stocking a 30 Gallon Marine and the Homicidal Brittle Star 10/30/05
I have a 30 gallon reef setup and am looking for an active and colorful fish that can survive my brittle star. 
<If you do indeed have a homicidal brittle star there are not many fish suitable to this tank size that can avoid him. A fish that can fit in a 30 gallon will have to be small and not need a lot of swimming room….in other words an easy target.> Currently I have two percula clowns and a sixline 
<You’ve reached the limit for a 30-gallon already with this load, the wrasse may be quick enough to avoid the star but the clowns are at risk for sure.> 
<<These stars hunt by stealth, usually while fishes are sleeping.  For most there is no escape.  MH>>
along with the star fish and a fire shrimp. I have lost two cardinals and a watchman goby to the bastard already. 
<Sounds vicious.> 
I would take him out but don’t want to empty the tank to do so. 
<Maybe coax him out with something that has a strong smell to it like squid, then net him, he needs to be removed.> 
Would a bicolor blenny be safe?
<No.>
<Adam J.> 

Brittlestars and Dwarf Seahorses  9/29/05
Can Small dwarf seahorses be kept with Brittle Star fish <Yes.  James (Salty Dog)> <<... not all species. RMF>>

Re: Small Star Problem 8/12/05
Thanks for the info...one more thing though; I'm quite certain that my starfish problem is a problem with serpent stars.  There are many in
the live rock and aside from physically removing them, is there any natural predators that you know of?  Thanks again!
Darryl
<Depends on the species... likely predation is not a practical solution... and even more likely this large population will self-correct. Again, I would not be concerned at this point. Bob Fenner>

Are banded serpent stars fish eaters? Sometimes 8/11/05
I recently bought 2 starfish, a red and white brittle star (Ophiomastix annulosa), and a banded serpent star listed as Ophioderma appressum/ brevispinum for my 2 year old reef/fish tank.  They stay on opposite sides of the tank.  I had a purple firefish who lived in the rock where the banded
serpent took up residence.  A week after purchasing the stars, I noticed some scrapes on the firefish, but he was healing them nicely.  About 2
weeks after purchase, the firefish has gone missing, likely dead and eaten based on how long he's been missing.  He disappeared over one night, and
hasn't jumped (tank is covered, no body).
So the question is, could a banded serpent star be a fish eater?
<Could be, yes>
Before purchase (and after) I've searched your site and others, and everything seems to suggest that they are perfectly reef and fish safe.
<Mmm, most specimens, settings, with feeding, this is so>
It's only the green brittle stars that seem to be known as fish eaters,
<Most notoriously... but there is a slippery slide scale of degrees of likely reef-safeness... Ophiuroids are determinate predators on many of the world's reefs... will eat most anything they can secure>
and I was careful not to get one of them.  It's possible it's coincidence and that the firefish just died, but he was in perfect health, and I'd rather take
out the $6 starfish rather than risk more fish, if the starfish is a likely culprit.
<Me too>
Thanks for any insights.
Scott Bennett
<Wish I could relate more. Have other second-hand accounts of others having "missing fish" problems with other Serpentstars... Bob Fenner>

Brittlestar...Shrimp Killer? - 06/04/05
I have a 29gal reef tank that houses 2 percula clowns, a sixline wrasse, three green Chromis and a fire shrimp.  Corals include candies, a red brain, an Alveopora, several buttons, polyps, mushrooms and a Tridacna maxima. I know that I am pushing the stocking limits...but I do 10% water changes every 4-5 days to maintain water quality.  Is this ok?
<<Very good to hear...but I wouldn't add any more fish to this tank.>>
Lighting consists of a 65 watt true actinic blue and a 65 watt 10000k day lamp.  I have a 400gph Skilter filter.  I recently moved most of this from a ten gallon that was becoming full.  The 10 now houses my brittle star.  I have not moved him over because while in the 10gal he ate my peppermint shrimp (it was the coolest thing I have ever seen).
<<The shrimp?...or the eating event?>>
Do you think it would be safe to move him?  Was this most likely an isolated incident or is he likely to cause harm to my other creatures?
<<Did you see the brittlestar attack the live shrimp?  While possible the starfish preyed on the live shrimp, I suspect it's more likely the starfish was just seen scavenging on a dead carcass and the shrimp expired from something else.  Brittlestars are very efficient detritivores/scavengers and serve a vital role in reef tanks.  They serve more good than harm in most cases...I would move it and maybe keep a watchful eye.>>
Thank you in advance for your help.
<<Regards, Eric R.>>

Serpent Star Ate Shrimp? - 05/01/05
Hi crew,
< Hello Linda >
I have a black brittle star and a banded serpent star in my 75 gal. I know that a green brittle star will eat shrimp and fish, but the LFS said the serpent star I bought was reef-safe. He is tan/brown with blackish bands on arms.
< Generally speaking, yes, I would agree with the LFS. > 
I found a dead blood shrimp a couple of weeks ago with no explanation to his death. Tonight I added a small cleaner shrimp and about 1 hour later (the lights were off) I saw the banded serpent dragging the dead shrimp back to his cave. Did he kill the shrimp or had the shrimp died for some other reason and he was simply eating the carcass? What's your take on it?
< While it is possible for a serpent star to prey upon live organisms, I think in this instance it was just doing its job as a scavenger. If it had attacked the live shrimp, it would have ensnared and engulfed it on the spot. More likely what you saw was the result of the star encountering the already deceased carcass. Many reasons why the shrimp could be dying... If both came from the same place try a different source... Check your water parameters for anomalies (are you performing frequent partial water changes?)... Review your acclimation procedures (shrimp can be very susceptible to salinity shock). >
Thanks - you guys are great!
Linda
< Regards, Eric R. >

Tiny serpent stars out of control
Hi, 
<Hello Christine>
I cannot find any reference to anyone else having the problem I have with my tank. All references to tiny serpent stars indicate that they aren't a problem, but....6 months ago 3 tiny white serpent stars hitchhiked into my tank with some Caulerpa. They remain small when fully grown (maximum of 2 inches tip of arm to tip of opposite arm, tiny bodies). They reproduce like rabbits. I have 2 captive bred seahorses, 1 red thorny starfish, snails, several types of worms, live rock, and live sand in a 30 gallon tank. 
The serpent stars remain tiny, but have multiplied out of control without a predator. I regularly suck them out with a turkey baster, and pull the fake plants/corals they like to hang out on, and rinse them in fresh water before returning them to the tank. All to no avail. The serpent stars are imbedded in the live rock and the population does not seem to diminish despite my efforts. Tonight, one went for a ride on a seahorse (it actually woke up the seahorse when the seahorse was already asleep) which seemed to make the seahorse itch (she was trying to rub the serpent star off). I helped get it off by using a turkey baster to agitate the water near the seahorse. 
I don't mind having some small serpent stars because they are cute and funny and make a good cleanup crew, but this is too many. I am trying to limit the food supply by target feeding my seahorses larger PE Mysis shrimp in the water column and removing
the excess (any that falls to the sand) immediately. I started this 1 week ago. Before this I used Hikari Mysis which had so many small pieces that the serpent stars could find Mysis that had fallen to the tank bottom. The seahorses only ate the whole Mysis, leaving the serpent stars with a good food supply. If limiting the food supply will work to thin out the serpent star population, how long will it take? What else can I do, especially to the live rock where they hide, that won't kill the Caulerpa or the beneficial bacteria. One rock has a feather duster worm I would like to keep. I'm considering arranging all live rock at one end of the tank, and only feeding seahorses at the other end. Would that help deprive the serpent stars of food? 
<Not really, it will end up in the water column somewhere.>
I would appreciate any advice you have. (By the way-water quality parameters are good, so is dissolved oxygen-I'm careful about that). 
<Christine, I think you have the perfect habitat for the harlequin shrimp. The feed exclusively on seastars. You may want to give one of these guys a try, keeping in mind that the harlequin does not feed on all seastars, just certain species, but if it were me, I'd give it a try. James (Salty Dog)>

Red Brittle Star
Is this Brittle Star safe for a 90gal Reef Set-up? I have l00 lbs of LR. I read that the Green Brittle Star is the predator. I have a scooter blenny and some Firefishes that I worry would be eaten if I bought this brittlestar. The LFS said this particular brittle star would not cause a problem. I'm worried. 
<Patty, if it's the Red (Bahama) or Harlequin Serpent Star, it is reef safe feeding on fish feces, dead organisms and uneaten food. James (Salty Dog)>
Thank you for assistance. 
<You're welcome>

Brittle Star Follow-up
Dear James,
Thank you for such a quick response. 
<You're welcome, Patty> 
This is not the Bahama or Harlequin Red Serpent Star. The name is Ophiomastix annulosa from Indonesia. I am having a hard time getting correct information from the LFS and don't want to put this brittlestar in my 90gal reef if he will dine on my fishes. I'm not sure I've been given the correct information. Is this brittlestar a predator? He definitely has spiny legs.
<Patty, in my reference book it states these guys will trap and dine on small fish during the night. So, if you don't want any of your gobies, etc to become a midnight snack......  James (Salty Dog)>
Thanks for your help. 
<You're welcome>

Shrimp and (Ophiarachna) starfish
I recently got a small green serpent starfish for my 20g saltwater tank which includes a blue damsel, Lemonpeel angel and coral banded shrimp.
<Way too much fish life for this volume...>
  When I put him in, the shrimp was very interested in him, and at first I thought seemed to be attacking him with his claws, and even had a tentacle in his
mouth.  Later though, I notice he sometimes picks stuff off of the star and eats it.  Well, since I put him in (about a week), I have not seen him eat,
and I have tried feeding him small bits of shrimp, even putting it right on him but he doesn't seem to acknowledge it at all, and it is always there the
next day.  My first question is, should I be worried?
Or is this normal behavior at first?
<Not atypical>
My other question is about my shrimp.  A few days after adding the star, he has stopped roaming the tank as he usually does, and he
mostly sits on the back of my rock formation all of the time.  He will eat though, if I drop food back there, but he doesn't seem to do much else.  He
seemed to do this before he molted, but that was only a few weeks ago.
Thanks for your time.
Ryan Antonio
<I take it you don't know re the predaceous habits of Green Brittlestars... Please read here re: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/brittlestars.htm
I'd be removing this animal. Bob Fenner>
 

Small five-legged White Star - Good or Bad for a reef tank?? Hello Bob. <Greetings Ted> I am hoping you can help me with an identification of the creature in the photos below. It is smaller than the diameter of a dime. <Nice pic> It has 5 legs and it is white. I have a good number of them on the floor of my sump tank and additionally they are in the sand bed of my 120G reef. They don't seem to be a problem but I don't know if they are a good thing or a bad thing for the tank. They move around a lot in the tank moving through the sand. I don't see them anywhere but in the sand. My reef tank is about 26 month in operation now and I have 4 tangs, 2 clowns and 7 Chromis, 4 shrimp snails crabs and some soft corals, button polyps, colt coral, toad stools mushrooms and green star. Everything is doing well but I am concerned with these star critters. I would appreciate any assistance you can provide. PS I did a search on the forum and found some references to small white serpent star back on 12/9/04 but they don't discuss if they are good or bad. <This is no doubt some species of brittlestar, Ophiuroid... and actually very beneficial and indicative of your good husbandry. The echinoderms (the phylum inclusive here) dominate many benthic marine environments and these small stars are a large part of many benthos environments... good for cleaning up, aerating the substrate, providing food... Bob Fenner>

Hungry serpent star
I have a serpent star that I have had for just over a year now. He is a green color with brown bands. Recently I have been losing quite a few snails. (Turbo and Astrea) Last night I saw the serpent star wrapping it's legs around one of the turbo snails foot. It appeared as though he was trying to eat the snail. He moved his oral disc over the snails foot. I removed the serpent star from the snail immediately. He is not one of the green brittle stars that are mentioned on your site so frequently. Could he be eating my snails?
<Yes. Ophiuroids are "big bosses" (and small) of tropical reefs to abyssal depths... some more predatory, specialized in their feeding mode, prey... others less discerning. Bob Fenner> 

Green brittle on the prowl - 3/7/05
Hello... I'm afraid I have a dilemma. 
<OK. Let's see what we can do about helping the situation>
I recently purchased a green brittle star... 
<Uh oh> 
... at the pet store in our town. The shop owner assured me there would be no problem in my tank unless any fish got sick or weak. 
<All I can say here is research before purchasing....I know you know this now.> 
All was fine for the first few days, he and our mandarin seemed to be getting along well, even hanging out in little areas together. 
<Hangin' out is not the word I would use> 
My husband and I kept a close watch on them because we were concerned about the safety of our fish. 
<I can only recommend that again, research before purchase. This starfish is well documented on our website.> 
Just when we thought things were alright, we caught our brittle star hovering over our mandarin and lowering down as if to eat her! 
<Very likely so> 
It even spit out the food it had been given about and hour earlier! I had originally wanted a chocolate chip star, but again, the shop owner advised that it would not be a good addition to a reef tank (I only have a pink tip anemone and a mandarin in with the star) 
<Well, a chocolate chip star is not a good reef tank addition but with the lack of corals it would likely be fine. Chocolate Chip species are hardy but aggressive feeders, more than happy to mount and consume sessile clams, oysters and all manner of corals, soft and stony.> 
My questions to you are: Is this normal behavior for a brittle star? 
<Not any brittle star but Ophiarachna. See here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/brittlestars.htm.  There are many attractive and useful brittle stars. You just happened upon one of the exceptions to the family.> 
Should we be concerned for the life of our Mandarin? 
<Yes. The brittle star is only the beginning of issues for the Mandarin fish. They need to either be trained to take frozen food preparations or you need to have plenty of live foods either available to you or in the aquarium where the mandarin is housed. A mandarin can decimate a population of amphipods in a small tank in no time.> 
And would a chocolate chip have been a better choice? 
<Really depends on your long-term vision for your tank keeping. Do your research and then determine your preferred choice of animal>
Thank you so much for your help. 
<Our pleasure. Thanks for being part of it all. ~Paul>

Serpent Star ID/Compatibility
WWM Crew,
First of all, thanks for a tremendous resource. Your site is always first when I read up on a new topic. 
<You're welcome>
I'm about to acquire a new 60 gallon tank. My plan is to merge the contents with my existing 18 gallon tank, but I'm a bit worried about compatibility.
The existing tank hosts my 2 perculas. Let's be clear, it is their tank. The new tank has a coral banded shrimp and a brittlestar (picture attached). 
<Marina searches folders for picture..>  
Down the road, when things are stable, I plan to add a bubble tip anemone for the clowns. I've read thru the ID and compatibility pages on the brittlestar, but I'm unsure if I might encounter a problem. Although he's not green, I'm unsure of his genus/species and I don't want to take the risk if he might threaten the clowns. Help! As for the coral banded shrimp, your collection seemed to suggest that they *might* go after fish in some cases as well. 
<Quite safe with fish, feeds on small bristle worms.> <<... Stenopids do eat fishes, other shrimp, snails... RMF>>
Given that there are no fish in the new tank, I wonder if the previous owner had a problem. Perhaps it isn't worth the risk? I really don't want any trouble makers! If I decided not to keep them, any ideas? 
<I do not foresee any problems and the brittle star you have I believe is in the Ophionereis group. James (Salty Dog)>

Brittle Star- Fishy Friend or Foe?
I have a green brittle star, a clownfish, and a yellowtailed Blue damsel.  Do I have to worry about the green brittle eating my fish the smallest fish is 1 1/2" long?
Thank you for any advice you can give.
Joshua Malone
<Well, Joshua- I suppose that it is possible that the Brittle Star could consume the little fish while they are resting, but I would not be overly concerned about it. This is not to say that the starfish can't consume your fish, but I have never had this happen in my experience. I'd just keep a close eye on the fish, provide plenty of hiding places for them, and keep everyone well fed. Best of luck to you! Regards, Scott F.>

Death of a jawfish
Blundell
Re Mr. Jaws
Thank you for your response
One critter that might have attacked Mr. Jaws was a brittle star.  I have two protein skimmers on the system, a 36g  w/ lots of live rock that dumps into a 12g sump with macro algae/deep sand bed that dumps into a wet dry filter/skimmer and a 12g small tank with a deep sand bed and corals were the jaw fish was. With two skimmers and a wet dry I would hope that the water has O2 in it, but I'll get a test kit for that anyway. Oh, I moved the brittle star to its own house. The 12g has a nano refugium on it (an old Skilter with parts removed, great for nano systems refugium-terrible for skimming:)
<< I don't think brittle stars really attack fish.  They will clean them up and eat them after they are dead, but I have a difficult time picturing them attacking a fish. >>
My main concern is to find the most likely cause of death so I don't harm other fish that might go into the system. I try to do my best by the critters in my care.
<< Noble questions.  In this case, I hate to say it but maybe he just died?  There may not have been anything you could have done for it. >>
Martin Garrison
<<  Blundell  >> <RMF has seen Brittlestars consume fishes in captivity and the wild>

Are These Fish Going to Be Brittlestar Food? (10/27/04)
Hi....Ok.. Here I go again. I don't have a sick fish, anemone or a starfish. I have 1 neon damsel ( if that how u spell it ) about an inch long, 2 blue damsel about an 1 1/2 long, 4 clownfish 2 r like Nemo & 2 got them 2 stripes on them about an inch long, 2 anemones, the little 1's  Whisper & the bigger 1's Hush & 1 Swampthing, the Green starfish. Will Swampthing eat the fish when he gets bigger????? <These are pretty active fish, all of which will grow big enough that being eaten is not particularly likely, but cannot promise. I would feed the star chunks of marine meat a few times per week. You may have a bigger problem with aggression as these highly territorial fish grow in you tank. I seem to recall that it is around 30 gallons, no? Keep an eye on the.> I got the tank going where I want it to go. The Nitrates & so R good. I just started that tank around July. It's my 1st tank. Thank-u a whole lot, Valerie <Sounds great, just be watchful for damsel/clown aggression. Steve Allen.>

Steve Allen, Re: Are These Fish Going to Be Brittlestar Food?
<Mmm, Steve's out till mid-month...>
The damsel was not visibly injured, but who knows about sick.  He was trapped in a "box canyon" formation of live rock, but although at first he
clearly had space to move between the brittlestar's legs, he just froze, barely even moving his fins, much less trying to escape.  As the star's legs
closed, its underside opened to surround the fish, which once enclosed, struggled for about 3 minutes.
<Yowzah!>
It was an amazing slice of life on the reef that I kick myself for not having at least some pictures to post as my digital camera was broken.  It occurred at about 12:30am and I woke my very reluctant fiancé to watch.  After it was over, she agreed I was right to wake her, but the raw spectacle did not engender a collateral benefit.
<Wow, a keeper!>
On another note, I want to again commend the folks at Wet Web for providing the accurate, accessible and timely information source that makes
reefkeeping possible for people like me.  While the protein skimmer is the physical technology that makes saltwater chemistry work for hobbyists, the
Internet allows the exchange of information and experience needed to enjoy and succeed at this fascinating endeavor.  Your site is my daily source.
Please pass along these thanks to Bob Fenner.
Dan Pellissier
<Agreed and thank you! Bob Fenner>

Brittle star eating Nudibranchs
Mr. Blundell,
<< Please no Mr.  Just Blundell, or Adam or hey you >>
While I am thankful for your advice & experience, I have to inform you that I have caught my culprit in the act of attempted lettucide-- it was my spiny brittle star.
<< Seriously?  Really? >>
I was watching my remaining nudibranch on one of the live rocks, & noticed that he was inching his way closer toward the brittle star. I allowed this for a
few minutes to see what would unfold. The brittle star's arms were feeling around the Nudibranchs general vicinity, & at 1st I didn't think anything would happen because when he touched the nudibranch it would seemingly recoil away. Despite this, however, his arms kept returning & touching the nudibranch.
<< Not too surprising, but if ends up eating him I'll be surprised.  I'm reading your email with suspense. >>
I was then distracted by the phone, & left the tank for only a minute, but then I returned, the brittle was all over the nudibranch. He had pulled it down
from where it was munching algae, & had completed wrapped his arms all around it. << Well that indeed sounds like he is eating them. >> I was able to remove the brittle from the nudibranch, & although it had secreted a large amount of mucous, seemed more or less alright. I temporarily relocated him to my refugium, where he did fine for the night & following day.
<< That is surprising, after being munched on. >>
The following day, I traded in my brittle for a new nudibranch. Even my LFS was surprised, but not too much so. My thinking is that brittles are scavengers, & scavengers are typically opportunists in nature & cannot pass up an easily caught meal.
<< True, but nudibranch aren't the most tasty food for them. >>
I'm also thinking that Crispata, not being true Nudibranchs, may not have the same toxicity as true Nudibranchs. << Could be so. >> They seem to have more of a camouflage coloration than the bright, "leave me alone, I'm toxic!" warning colors as well.
<< True.  Want to sound smart.  We call those "aposomatic" colors.  Use that in a sentence with your friends and you'll sound really smart.... or really nerdy. >>
Thank you anyway for your response, & I hope that you can benefit from my experience as I most certainly
have from WWM Crew's as well. << Indeed, I know what to answer next time I receive this same question.  Thanks for your input. >>
Take Care,
Pete
<<  Blundell  >>
> My 1st suspect is the brittle star-- I'm thinking that with his long searching arms it may have come across it & probably could have caught it pretty easily. I don't think this guy is actively predacious, but could be opportunistic? << Doubtful. I wouldn't think of him as the problem. >>

Predatory Brittle Star
Hi!
Thank you for getting back to me the last time I wrote to you.  I now have a new question.  It is regarding Ophiomastix variabilis.  I have a 110 gallon
reef tank and would like to purchase one of these starfish and was wondering if it would be compatible with small fish such as Chromis, firefish and other
starfish such as a small red sea star, snails and crabs.  If so do you know where I could obtain one?
Thank you once again.
Jim Hoffman
>>>Hey Jim,
Great name by the way! :)
Brittle stars of this order (Ophiurida), including the better known green brittle star, Ophiarachna incrassata are known fish eaters. I would steer clear of them if I were you. Instead, go with one of the red or brown serpent stars. I have several of them, and they are just fine with small fish.
Cheers
Jim<<<

Tiny Brittlestars, Friend or Foe? (8/30/04)
I have recently noticed 4 or 5 very tiny starfish in my 120 gallon tank. <Lucky you!> I have only seen their legs penetrating out of some of my live rock.  They seem to be white with dark bands! <cool> Any idea of what type of starfish this could be? <No. Mini Brittlestars for sure. Almost certainly not babies of bigger brittle/serpent stars. There are so many of these in the sea that there is little in the way of taxonomic classification that has been done on them.> I haven't been able to get any pictures as they are fairly small. <Yes> Recently when my flower pot coral retracted I saw 3 starfish legs sticking out of a piece of the coral.  Is this starfish eating my flower pot or has it just found a home of a part that was already dead? <Found a home. BTW >95% of all flowerpot corals are dead within months of being put in the tank. I'd suggest you read about Goniopora on WWM. I had one once. I'll not try them again until experts have found a way to keep them alive. Personally, I think they should not be offered for sale to unwary aquarists (as I was when I bought mine).> I also wanted to let you know that I have found another type of starfish.  It is definitely white.  Not banded.  At least the size of a nickel.  It has 4 short legs and 3 long ones. Yes 7 in total. <Probably Asterina species. Not thin-legged like Brittlestars. They reproduce by fission and often are misshapen. Like Brittlestars, they are beneficial scavengers, but can become too numerous (many hundreds) under certain conditions.> I have a picture of this one if you would like to see it. <Check the pictures of Asterina on WWM or in books for comparison.> Thanks for all of your help. Lisa <Glad to be of service. Hope this is helpful, Steve Allen.>

Anemone-Eating Brittlestar? (6/23/04)
Hello Bob - <Steve Allen taking echinoderm queries tonight.>
I feel like an idiot because I do not know nor can I find anywhere help on this question. <Sometimes there are no answers.> I have a 2 y/o 30 gallon mixed reef tank, lovely, stable, (except for mysterious Anthelia die-off happening currently) - 3 fish, many corals and inverts.  
I waited x 2 yrs to be sure lighting, etc was proper before purchasing a tiny (2") rose BTA - purchased last week - LOVELY! <Your patience is admirable and wise. I wish everyone thought that way.>  Ate immediately, bubble tips in profusion, the most glorious thing in the tank.  It settled into a crevice the 2nd day, as if on command, right in the front and center of the tank and remained there.  This AM its gone and my brittle star is distended. <Is it possible the anemone hid somewhere?>
No ID on the brittle star, nor can find pic similar to it - totally blah colored (very dark gray) with subtle lighter gray banding on the arms. <How big? Many Brittlestar genera have never been classified/named down to the species level.>  I know green brittle stars can be predatory - can others??  <Brittlestars are omnivores and eat anything edible that doesn't fight back (such as sleeping fish) or is too big. Hard to imagine your star could have fit a 2" anemone, but there's not much left after the water is squeezed out. I would have thought the stings would make it inedible to the star and I am not aware of reports of Brittlestars eating anemones. You might want to post a thread under "Marine Invertebrates at the wetwebfotos.com board to see if anyone has seen this happen.>
Am so sad about the anemone. <understood> Brittle star going on vacation elsewhere as soon as I can catch him.  <Not a simple task, but you can often lure them out with food. Hard to say if it's the problem though.> Thanks - Nita Irby <Hope this helps. You certainly should consider trying again.>

Echinoderm Aggression (6/23/04)
Hello again kind Sirs, <Steve Allen here.>
Yesterday I added a Tiger tail Cucumber to my 45 gallon tank (50 lb LR, 5” DSB).  Initially he seemed to settle in just fine.  I got up a little while ago and took a quick look into the tank.  My 2 brittle stars (6’’and 8” mottled brown in color) looked like they were trying to pull the Tiger tail Cucumber to pieces. <They probably were trying to eat it. Perhaps they're not getting enough food.> I have never seen this kind of aggression from them and I’ve had them well over a year. <It does seem odd.> I see no visible damage (yet) to the cucumber but he was definitely having a
rough night and it looks like he might have released a little bit of innards. <Uh-oh> I pulled the Brittle stars off and removed the cucumber then placed him into a 5 gallon quarantine tank, <smart> which just has some LR rubble in it.  Tomorrow I plan to do a 20% (6 gal.) water change and also change out some of my carbon. <Wise. Polyfilter is useful for removing contaminants too.> How toxic are Tiger tail Cucumbers? <Hard to say. Less than say, sea apples.> Should I be more aggressive with the amount of the water I change?  <If everything in there looks good, I doubt you need to get too aggressive as I would have expected a rapid negative effect right after the event. These toxins are fast-acting.> The
next thing is I have to figure out what to do with the cucumber.  I was planning to install a hang on refugium tomorrow would keeping him in there be an option, I know I’m reaching, but I thought he was pretty cool. <Nurse him back to health in the QT. See if feeding your brittle stars small chunks of shrimp or squid keeps them away from him. I suspect there was something wrong with him in the first place that led them to "attack." I would not expect your average Brittlestar to try to eat a healthy sea cucumber.>
Do you have any recommendations on “stocking” the hang on refugium (19”x 12” x 4 ½”).  Based on the picture in Reef Inverts (page 66) I was thinking of 1 inch crushed coral plus 3 inches of Carib special grade sand, some LR rubble and then ordering some macro algae (not Caulerpa). <Don't mix sand grades. I'd suggest 3-4 inches of sand and some LR chunk. Chaetomorpha would be your best bet, but I have successfully grown Gracilaria in my AquaFuge. Check www.inlandaquatics.com for an excellent selection and great service. This will make a great environment for 'pods & mysids.>
I also have 10 lbs of LS coming in tomorrow (great timing huh) from Walt Smith which I was going to split up between the refugium and the display tank.  I was also planning to add a couple of Ceriths and Nassarius snails to the refugium, thoughts? <Small Strombus snails are nice as well and will reproduce. Check www.ipsf.com> Once again, thanks in advance for the guidance.
Chuck <Hope this helps.>

Insidious Ophiarachna incrassata Strikes Again?
>Hello WWC,
>>Hello Neal.
>I am passing this question on to you because I am stumped and don't know what to tell this customer...
>>Alright. Should I have on oven mitts?
>He has a stable 125 with no fish additions recently. A month ago he had a large yellow tang, large Naso tang, a Tomato clown and an Imperator angel. He also has a decent amount of live rock and some damsels and a green brittle star.
>>D'OH! Seriously? A green brittle star? Ummm! Uh oh!
>Recently he has lost all of the large fish (all but the damsels(!) and the brittle star have disappeared) one every day or so. He claims that the highest ammonia level he has tested is 0.25 mg/L and no nitrite. 
>>Get the brittle star (and ALL other brittle stars) OUT of that tank, ASAP. Ophiarachna incrassata is a KNOWN fish eater. (Note the "arachna" part of its genus) There are many other brittles that are suspect, but genus and species have not been as well-documented. I know of one person right now who's got a large "tan" brittle that's at LEAST 16" across, and his Carpenter flasher wrasses are gone, one at a time. 
>I told him he must disassemble the rock formation and find the carcasses but I couldn't put my finger on the cause of the deaths. 
>>There ARE no carcasses, my friend. There is only the Death Star. He must meet with Yoda, listen to Yoda. Yoda says, "The star trap you must! To remove, sump, tank other, it must go!" May the force be with you both. Live long, and prosper. Grok.
>He claims the fish eat until the day of they are missing, are social with each other and show no signs of disease. I showed him pictures of deadly Cyano and dinoflagellate algae and he claims that he hasn't seen anything like it in the tank. We even discussed the possibility of a mantis shrimp but I was really just guessing at that point.
>>Still are, but I'm not. He'd have other signs, and a mantis would be going for the little fish, who are likely far more vigilant than those big, safe in their sheer confident big-arse selves in their bigness, and the safety of that bigness. Too bad, too late.
>I know all of this info is second hand and incomplete, but if you have any ideas I would appreciate it. 
>>You got 'em! Get that star out, put it in its own tank or sump. Don't sell brittles as "good scavengers", they MUST be fed directly for most fishes to have a hope of not falling prey, and even then.. Let's put it this way, the MANTIS is in danger if housed with the green brittle star. 
>Thanks in advance, Neal Isaacs - Aquatica
>>You're welcome, and please do a search here as well as a general Google. I believe another well-known fish-eater is Ophiothrix purpurea.
>>P.S. See here to read the saga of my friend..
http://www.reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=49666  (you'll have to register to see pix). Marina 

Caught in the Act!!! Feeding a Killer Brittle Star (two in one) 
>Hello, 
>>Hello. 
>I had an interesting sight (which has brought up a few questions) in my 60g tank I thought you guys might like to hear. I have been hearing cracking noises in my tank and have been trying to catch what I thought was a mantis shrimp. 
>>Or in some instances a pistol shrimp. 
>I had no luck but a new occupant brought in with some new LR did. It was an obviously large brittle star (it looked similar to a Ophiothrix suensonii, maybe slightly darker), I have seen 4 inches of arms on occasion. It was soon after lights out one night and I had a look to see if the brittle star would show itself, many of its arms were out and it seemed quite excited. I soon realized it was battling a sizable pistol shrimp(2.5 inches), they were both fighting quite violently but the brittle star came out on top, literally tearing the shrimp's head off. 
>>Oy! Made for National Geographic, the battle of the year! Wowee, must have been quite the sight to witness. And mad props to you for catching in on tape (even more if the shots are really clear)! 
>I think I scared the brittle star when I taped their action (with the camera's light on) and it left the shrimp at the mouth of its hole. 
>>Oh me, I'd love to see this (and so would at least several thousand other reefers). 
>When I pulled what was left of the shrimp out in the morning it had been sucked dry, even its claws, which were unbroken. I know they are supposed to be scavengers but I was wondering if I should feed him and how much. 
>>All brittle stars? Nay, my friend, they're all to be WATCHED, and carefully at that. There is currently one well-known culprit, Ophiarachna incrassata (the nefarious Green Brittle star) for taking livestock, but it is also very commonly accepted that, in general, ALL brittles must be watched carefully for a propensity to go fishing (or in your case, shrimping). This animal will require its own dedicated system. 
>The next day I dropped a chunk of seafood mix into his hole and it was soon gone so I thought he might need a decent amount. Also I was planning to add a pair coral banded shrimp some time and I was wondering if it would be safe with my shrimp killing brittle star. 
>>NOT at all, <giggle>, nor would I trust that spiny beast with any vertebrate life, either. As a matter of fact, I wouldn't even consider it safe with mantis shrimps. 
>Thanks for your time and brilliant site and sorry for rambling on - Ryan 
>>Not at all! But, if you'd be willing to send along some of the more exciting individual shots, I'm sure we could find a place for them on the site (maybe, Bob willing, their own page? Quite worthy in my opinion). Great story, Ryan! Marina 
- Part Deux - 
>I wrote to you earlier in the day about a brittle star which took out a pistol shrimp and have found more info which may affect your answer to the previous questions. After dropping some food into his hole tonight I got quite a surprise when I saw some un-brittle star appendages feeding in unison with the brittle star. This 'thing' was using multiply string like tentacles to grab the food and drag it into the hole. After dropping more food in I got a better look at the 'thing' which turned out to be quite a large lobster like shrimp, it was a greeny-blue colour and had one large claw and one small. I've been musing they may have double-teamed the pistol shrimp but have no proof. Do lobsters usually grab food with tentacle things and have you ever heard of lobsters and brittle stars living in the same hole and even sharing food? 
>>The tentacles may very well be part of the star's feeding mechanism, as many of them quite literally eviscerate themselves (turn their stomachs inside out) in order to feed. If you can get a shot of the tentacles, it would be more helpful. I'm also thinking along the lines of something like a Terebellid worm (lord, I hope I've got that one right) which sends out long tentacles with which they pick up foodstuffs, often just detritus, but I'd expect that if they get scent of a good feed they'll go for that as well. As for double-teaming, I personally know of no such symbiosis, but I'm hardly an expert, either. 
>I have been trying to organize a digital camera to send a pic of this strange relationship (if you were interested), I have it on video camera but I'm not sure if you would accept it and haven't joined the camera to the computer yet. Sorry to trouble you but I thought you guys might like to hear about the development - Ryan. 
>>Absolutely, and I will BCC this to Bob and Anthony, see what they think of the whole thing. I think that this is fascinating, and most folks aren't able to capture on tape, film, or digital media. Marina

Did the star eat them? (3/6/04)
I know that green brittle starfish are known to eat small fish, but what about red brittle? <What species?> I have a red brittle that is 14in. <Sounds nice.> across and I'm suspecting him to be eating my fish....in the past 7 months I've attempted to keep a Firefish and a baby Banggai (the Banggai was about 1/2") both fish did great....then mysteriously over night they would disappear. I can't think of any other possibilities for what happened other than my red brittle...I also have a tomato clown in the tank which I've had for over 8 months (he's a lot bigger than the other fish I tried to keep though).
<First off. Please capitalize the noun "I", use apostrophes in your contractions and spell-check your e-mails in the future. We post these inquiries and replies on the web forever and like them to be as readable as possible. Our volunteers will have a lot more time to provide helpful answers to queries if they don't have to spend time fixing them. Thanks.
  Now, on to the question at hand. Although I like "innocent until proven guilty," I think your suspicions are well-founded. Any large, hungry Brittlestar will take the opportunity to devour a hapless fish that is small enough and unable to escape. Usually it happens when the fish is sleeping at night, which is when Brittlestars are most active. Stars of the genus Ophiarachna are notorious for this. On the other hand, the fish may have died on their own and been consumed post-mortem by.