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Green Brittle Star'¦Sick Or Reproducing? -- 04/1/08 I have had a green brittle star for 9 months in a 120 gallon tank. It has been healthy & grown well! <<Mmm'¦ Ophiarachna incrassata? Can indeed get large'¦and is known to ambush and eat fish>> Without any indication of being sick, in a matter of less than 24 hours, it rubbed itself against a rough piece of live rock & sawed itself into 4 pieces (all but one have a chunk of the body on it). <<You actually saw this? Strange'¦>> How can you tell if it did this because it is sick or reproducing? <<Don't know that you can'¦though this seems extreme for reproductive behavior>> What are the chances any of the pieces will survive? <<Not uncommon for those pieces with bits of the oral disc attached to grow in to/become whole animals again'¦in the wild. Not so much'¦in captivity>> All four are moving about the tank with ease. <<About all you can do is keep an eye on them'¦remove if they 'die' and begin to decompose>> Thanks for your advice. Kristie <<Happy to share. EricR>>
Green brittle star...is it dead? 02/02/2008 I have a had green brittle star for about a week. The middle is the size of a quarter. LFS said it would be a good bottom cleaner. Parameters ok, temp 78. It ate a piece of shrimp from my hand last night. After it ate the shrimp it crawled on top on of a boat decoration and today when I went to check my parameters I bumped the boat and the star fell off in the same position that it was in on the boat. It is rather stiff. I placed it on my live rock as that is where it has preferred to hide. I am watching for movement but I am seeing none. It has never really moved much that I have seen but I do not think that it should be stiff like this should it? Any help would be great. Thanks. <<For all intents and purposes, I would class this as dead.. Yes, they are not a big mover in the aquarium, however, being knocked of a perch like that, I would certainly expect a reaction from it. Sorry confirm your thoughts.>> Jessica <<Thanks for the question. A Nixon>> Green brittle star, Marine Stocking 1/11/08 Hi WWMedia Crew! <Hello> I'm a huge fan of the site, as well as the Bob and Anthony's books. You've helped me a great deal, as I've moved forward with my first tank. <Great> I'm hoping you can help me again. I'm looking toward the somewhat distant future of my tank and had a question, concerning the green brittle star's appetites. Would larger fish, e.g. lionfish, morays or Marine Bettas be in jeopardy? (These are what I have set up, to date.) <Not likely, however I would guess the star would be in danger from them, its legs could make a tasty snack.> Of course there's the Betta, who I know enjoys caves... once he has reached adult size would he be OK with the green brittle star? The Betta comes first for me--he's got nothing but personality, and I brought him home and intend to care for him. I want to be sure he's safe. <Most likely would be ok, but honestly I would skip the star altogether, no need to tempt fate by adding a piscivore to the tank.> I have a 90g tank with around 120 lbs. of live rock, a 20g and a TurboFlotor protein skimmer, if that helps sketch out the logistics. My levels are usually around 77 degrees, 1.023 SG, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, <10 nitrates, pH 8.2. No inverts so far--aside from the ones that showed up on my live rock. I'm sticking mostly with a FOWLR setup. <Ok> Thanks. I'm truly grateful for all you do... ATH <Welcome> <Chris>
Re: Stone crabs in my tank (not)... Ophiarachna after all -- 10/30/2007 Not sure if you remember our discussion or not <I remember, reading, placing...> I did promise to tell if I figured out what was eating the missing tank members. We had quite a discussion a few months ago. Well let me tell you the past few months have been nuts. Had a pretty healthy Aiptasia bloom. <These might do it...> I had 2 live rocks with larger animals on them. The rest was a fine hair like growth on the lace rock. First reaction is the lace rock was yanked and bleached. I've done this with regularity over the 30 yrs I've had fish with no bad affects. I just make sure to rinse really well and completely air dry everything. <Yes> Anyway the 2 live rocks, one smaller one was sacrificed, only thing of value was the rose anemone and I removed him and placed him on a "safe" rock. Rose anemone was new and I suspect the Aiptasia came in with him. Broke the other rock off and tossed the section with the Aiptasia. <One control approach...> Anyway to make a long story short I spent 2 days stripping the reef. Took it really slow and pulled everything that I found off rocks and moved them to other rocks. During this strip search I found 2 more of those darn Mithrax crabs! <Ahh!> Didn't catch them in the traps and I spent about 2 weeks baiting and moving and setting up in different ways in different locations with different baits. Well ok, I thought great we have all the little buggers and nothing else so restock the tank. First purchase, 3 peppermint shrimp (missing) one gorgeous blue tux urchin, yep mildly predacious but darn do we have enough hair algae to keep him pretty busy. Which is why I bought that "algae ONLY eating" green bristle star!!!!! <Mmm, hmmm> Now let me explain, when I was about 12 yrs old my mom bought this gorgeous salt water set up. She had it for about 2 yrs and one day I came home to find it ripped down "out of the wall" and sitting in the garage empty. When I asked her what was up she explained that her "pet" chocolate chip star had eaten her last fish. She had this star trained and she really thought it was cute how he'd reach out and grab the food from her hand. Well instead of the food it was her last fish and she took the star fish and dried him out and set him on her bar to remind her to never get another fish tank. <Yikes!> Needless to say I have a poor opinion of star fish! That was one of the big rules when we went into the tank, No star fish! Well he was playing with this guy in the store and I told him how I felt and the employee walked up behind us and said """"""" Oh no that guy is perfectly safe in your tank!! He only eats algae, he does get big and will eat a lot of algae so you need to make sure he has enough to eat!!!"""""""""""" <Right...> Gee and maybe that's why I didn't think about him when we were having our discussion about where my fish were going!! Yesterday, I acquired a new piece of live rock, it came in with 5 almost microscopic stars on it. Well first thing was to research and make sure the green star wouldn't fight with the little guys, 2 blue Linckias and one black and a white ringed bristle star and 2 of those 5 legged little macro stars. Lo and behold what do I find when I come to your site and pull up the green bristle star fish. Vicious fish eater!!!! Oy vie!! I could ring that pet store persons neck!! Anyway Bristle star is a pretty cool little/big guy at 12". <!> He's just gonna have to move to the isolation tank. Oh and guess what? More of those darn Mithrax crabs in the new piece of live rock, Small piece about 6" and I've pulled 2 of them out so far!! Nice rock with 5 lacy mushrooms on it at $20. <I'd sell the Mithraculus...> Really glad we set up that isolation tank. Thank you for that bit of advise.. Take care and sorry for the long winded letter Bridget <Thank you for this follow-up. Cheers, Bob Fenner> Re: Stone crabs in my tank (not) 10/30/07 LoL you're too funny!! I can just see it now Me standing on the street corner hollering, "hey anyone want crabs" ROTFL Thank you for having your site, I can't begin to tell you what an incredible resource it is!! I am truly grateful for all your help! Take care Bridget <Thank you! BobF> Green Brittle Starfish compatibility - 10/8/07 <Hello> I have a 55 gal with a Snowflake moray eel, Volitans lionfish, and an almost three inch Niger trigger fish. <Need more room for these three.> I have read about this "fish eating brittle star" <!> if I get a Green Brittle Star will he eat my triggerfish, or any other of mine for that reason, but I am most worried about me Niger. <I wouldn't take a chance on it. There's a good reason why they're sometimes referred to as 'The Green Death'!> Thank you very much. <You're welcome --Lynn>
Problem with my Green Serpent Starfish (The Headless Starfish) I have had my serpent starfish for well over a year and he has doubled in size and has been such a joy to us. We had him in a 150 gallon tank full of live rock and he would always get behind it and make other rocks fall...so about a month ago we started a small 55 gallon tank just to add him and a few pieces of rock along with one male and one female clown. We tested the waters before adding the things to the new tank and made sure it was established. We put him in my sons room because he loves to watch him. He has been crawling all over the tank, and has been eating very well. On Saturday night when I went to bed I fed the clowns and I also fed him. When we woke up on Sunday Morning... his central disc had completely blown up... I could see everything inside his body the whole top is gone. He was still moving all about the tank. Today is Monday night and all the brown stuff that was inside him is now a white color but he is still very active and moving about the tank. I have noticed that his all attached 5 limbs are still trying to catch food but he has nowhere to put it. Could you please tell me what I should do. <Nothing much "to do"... but hope that this animal will self-cure> I immediately removed the clowns from the tank and added them to the 150 gallon tank so he is all alone. I read that they do not have brains so they do not experience pain......but I am experiencing enough pain for him. My son WILL NOT let me flush his as long as he is still moving around the tank. <I agree... leave this animal be> I just do not see how he is going to recover. Please send me any information that will be helpful. Thank you so much in your quick response. Brandi Vickers <Ophiuroids, Brittlestars have remarkable "powers of regeneration"... Am hopeful yours will recover. Do your best to "leave it alone" (not add "medicines"), keep water quality stable... Bob Fenner> Re: Problem with my Green Serpent Starfish (The Headless Starfish) 9/16/05 I am sorry to report that I had to flush the starfish. His legs became detached from his body and he began to have a foul odor. He was still moving two of the legs that were attached to nothing. I do plan on getting another one, he was very interesting and I loved to watch it. And he did last over a year before we lost him. I am hoping I did not make a bad decision to flush him now. Do you really think he could have "regenerated" himself? <Not at this/that point... I would have done the same> Thanks for all your help. Brandi <Very important to "match" the water quality... even better to actually move a good deal of existing water to new systems with this species, other echinoderms. Bob Fenner>
Green brittle star diet (O. incrassata) 11/18/03 Hi Gang, <howdy> Love your site. <thanks kindly> I have read that green brittle stars can be fish eaters. <indeed... they are opportunistic and uncommonly predatory for a brittle star> I was not aware they might eat corals too. <not likely... more a predator on motile invertebrates like small shrimp... also will eat Tridacnid clams that fall and squirm to right themselves> This evening, while doing a water change I notice that my Xenia, normally waving in the current up front, was missing. I swear I had just seen it. Upon further inspection its rock had been pulled from the crevice I had it lodged in. After some searching I found the rock, with just a tattered fragment of Xenia flesh still attached, in a cave under my green brittle star. <interesting> I am assuming he (?) ate the Xenia. Can I expect more of this behaviour? <their attacks are somewhat random... but honestly they are an unsafe long term species for reef aquaria. Most any other brittle or serpent star is very safe though> A large mushroom which yesterday had nearly worked its way free to begin drifting about has also disappeared. I cannot find it at all. Thanks in advance, Scott Bartlett. <remit this star to a fish only tank perhaps... very fine scavenger as you have noticed. Seriously :) Anthony> Green (not always) Brittle Star...Yummy tankmates! 1/3/07 <Hi James, Mich with out today.> You're website is great and you are all smarter and better looking than I will ever be and if you can help me I will send you $5 in the mail... <Heeheee! Flattery will get you everywhere!> Today I woke up and found half my sally light foot crab sticking out of the mouth of one of my brittle stars. <Sorry for your loss.> Looking at your website I have since determined that although dark brown in color, it is indeed a green brittlestar. <Yes, Green Brittle stars, (Ophiarachna incrassata), may not always appear green. Though the base color is usually light green to olive, there is often a contrasting pattern of varying colors which can alter the overall appearance.> I have another brittle star that looks almost exactly like this one but it is smaller and light tan. Is it possible that this too is a 'green' brittle star? Is it that simple or should I send a photo (which may be difficult since they avoid light.) <It is possible. As a general statement, brittle stars, are not the safest of tankmates. Serpent stars are much more docile and I think preferable. My personal fav is the Ruby Red Serpent Star (Ophioderma rubicundum).> Also, if I do have to get rid of the two stars should I find other animals to 'sift' my sand or is the likelihood that these two stars were filling that niche low anyways? <Low likelihood.> I have a half a dozen Cerith snails, a dozen Nassarius snails, and a dozen little hermits to do that for me already (in a 29 g tank). <Mmm, more or less.> Lastly, what is the best method to capture these brittle stars so I can return them to the LFS? <Usually can be lured from their hiding places by offering a tasty morsel or two by hand. Thanks, <Welcome! -Mich> James Green Brittle Star 11/26/07 Hey Crew, <Hello Kirk, Mich here.> Just a quick question. I recently bought a green brittle star because of their reputation as janitors. <They are good janitors, so good in fact, that they will clean up your livestock as well.> I did my research first and was fully aware of their predatory nature. <Good, they have also been called "The Green Death".> I have a 135gal FO system with a Humu, a Blue Angel, Majestic Angel, Yellow Tang, Coral Beauty, and a Blue Damsel. I wasn't too worried about the safety of any of my fish but I forgot all about my last fish...a little Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse. <Poor survival rates, should not be not be kept in captivity.> I really don't know how I did it but I actually forgot all about him until I but the star in the tank and saw the wrasse swim past it. So... my question is, what is the likelihood that he will be eaten by the star? <Can you say: "Tastes like chicken".> I have had him for about six months now and he is actually doing very well in the system. I had big hesitations when I purchased him due to their low mortality rate in captivity. <...but you purchased him anyway?> But my son really wanted him so I caved. <Would have been better to use the situation to teach your son about conservation and responsibility.> Truthfully I didn't expect him to do this well. <...Yet you purchased him anyway?> He is a really good eater and follows the trigger around all day and whenever the trigger scoops up a mouthful of sand, the wrasse seems to pick at little whatever's that get stirred up with it. He also stays right next to the trigger at feeding time and eats the tiny pieces the messy trigger spits out. The angels and tang also really like the services the wrasse provides and open up their gills several times a day for a good once over. I don't really know where the cleaner beds down at night but I am pretty sure its one of the many holes/caves in the rock. So I am a little worried about his safety. <And you should be.> Do these stars actually stalk fish <Like paparazzi.> or are they more opportunity feeders that will take advantage of a sick/weak victim. I will more than likely take the star back if you guys feel there is a real threat to the cleaner. <Take him back, put him in he sump, get him out of the main tank...if you don't want to loose your wrasse.> Sorry it got so winded...as always, I appreciate the help. <You seem like you know the info, you just need to stick by what you know and not be pressured at your LFS.> Kirk The Mystery of the Disappearing Fishes...Better Take a Closer Look at That Ophiuroid - 05/26/06 Hello Everyone, <<Morning Barb!>> I am writing out of desperation, in the hopes of finding some peace of mind. <<Uh-oh...well, let's hear your problem and see if I can help>> I have a 55-gallon saltwater setup with a 30-gallon refugium <<Excellent>> that has been up and running for about 3 years now. The livestock would include: 2 Clown Fish/host Anemone 1 Mandarin 1 Brittle Starfish (spans about 6-8") 1 Cleaner Shrimp 1 Coral Banded Shrimp 1 Peppermint Shrimp 1 Green Chromis And various corals. My water parameters are all fine, and I do regular weekly water changes to stay ahead of the algae problem. Here is my problem. Not even two weeks ago, I thought I could add some more fish to liven up the tank. So I purchased a Sixline Wrasse, <<Nasty little buggers>> a Royal Gramma Basslet, <<And on the other side of the coin... These are wonderful little aquarium fishes>> and five Green Chromis. <<Mmm..are "okay" as far as damsels go>> Everyone looked fine for a few days and then I noticed the Wrasse disappeared. <<No quarantine, eh>> By the way my tank has a cover to prevent a suicide jumping. <<I understand the reasoning...but feel the advantage/benefit of improved gas exchange to be worth the risk of keeping an open-top tank>> Then about 10 days after the purchase, a couple of the Chromis disappeared, as well as the Basslet just yesterday. <<Very troubling indeed>> I am now down to just one Green Chromis of the original purchase. The Wrasse and Basslet just disappeared without showing any signs of poor health. As far as the Chromis go, I did notice some strange markings that I later researched from your site that cannot be explained. The markings were red blotches like a bruise on the skin and some scales missing. <<Mmm yes, a physical trauma...and a clue...>> Also skin coloring looked like it was turning white. Only one of the original Chromis showed these markings and eventually the rest did. I definitely plan on talking to the fish store about replacing them. <<I don't think the store is to blame here...at least not directly...>> However, I can't explain losing the Wrasse and Basslet. <<I have an idea/suspicion>> Did I try to put too many fish in my tank or is there a predator that I'm not aware of? <<The latter I believe...will explain below>> Like I mentioned, they just disappeared overnight, and showing no signs of distress. I really thought I had room to grow. And I find it very strange that up until this last purchase, the other tank habitants had been doing just fine. I'm really disappointed about this and I'm afraid to put anything else in the tank. Maybe I should mention, that I've had recent outbreak of glass anemones which I've been trying to control with a Kalk solution, which I also learned about from your site. <<Not the problem here>> It seems to working well since the Peppermint Shrimp isn't doing it's job. <<Ha! Yes, my experience with these as well>> Could you guys help me with this problem and tell me what I did wrong? It kills me to see what I thought were healthy fish (Wrasse and Basslet) just disappear. Thanks so much, Barb <<Well Barb, I think you need to look to that growing Brittle Star as the culprit...especially if it happens to be "green" (genus Ophiarachna)...have a look here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/brittlestars.htm. Even if not Ophiarachna, the more "fish safe" species will sometimes turn to your fish for an "after-dark snack" when they get large and/or are not kept well fed. From the fish species taken/gone missing and the circumstances and markings/injuries you describe, the Brittle Star rises as the prime suspect in my mind. I suggest you move that Brittle Star to your refugium and see if the situation improves for your fishes...I think it will. Regards, Eric Russell>> 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 <sic> 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>
Green brittle star loses all legs 29 Jun 2005 Hi my green brittle star just lost all of its legs over a period of 2 days. <....> I have him and his legs in their own one gallon tank now. <?> All system parameters are were they should be. do you have any idea what's happening. in the tank i have one Koran Angel (left the starfish alone), one Clarkii Clown (left the star alone), one Scooter Blenny (very peaceful), one Lemonpeel Angel (didn't bother the starfish that i know of) No rock collapses either any idea thanks <Please read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/brittlestardisfaqs.htm and the linked files above. Bob Fenner> Green Brittle Star 11/10/05 I have a green brittle star and a black brittle star. We did a water change a few days ago. Everything stayed pretty consistent as far as pH saltwater etc. However a few days after the change my Green star disk started swelling it looks like he swallowed a rock and he's going to explode. Then a few days after my Green star did this my black star started as well. What is going on? <... mmm, maybe a reaction to the water change... but possibly from eating, reproductive products?> Does it have anything to do with the water change (I was thinking it might but wouldn't they have started showing this right after the change not days later)? <Not necessarily> Could it possibly be air bubbles? <Doubtful> I have a bubble tube under the gravel to emit little bubbles to float to the top is it possible they swallowed air bubbles and can't get rid of the air? They are still moving and everything but the green one just yesterday had a arm come off. Both the Green starfish and his severed arm are continuously moving. Let me know what I should do. <... keep on keeping on...> I also just read on your website that the green brittle star can eat sleeping fish (can the black one also?) <Mostly Ophiarachna amongst commonly kept Brittlestars...> Maybe that is what has been happening to my fish. I have a well established maroon clown who always hangs out in his anemone but when I try to add any new fish like tangs they are fine during the day and then mysteriously over night they are dead with just their skeleton floating around or with crabs and starfish eating the body in the morning. <Oops... time to get a flashlight out, check during the night...> I thought the starfish and crabs were eating them after they died. Is it possible that either the crab or the starfish actually caught the fish and killed them? <Oh yes> Please get back to me as soon as you can. This is beginning to quickly become an expensive project. Sherri Berg <Bob Fenner> Re: Green Brittle Star 11/10/05 Thank you for getting back to me so quickly. The Black star fish looks like his stomach came out and he was eating something last night. This morning I checked on him and he looks fine his big hump is gone. However my green one is not looking so good. He has lost another leg, still has his hump and is not coming out during feeding time. Sherri Berg <Please read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/brittlestars.htm and the linked files above, particularly "Disease". Bob Fenner> Green Brittle Star 9/30/05 Hi, recently I bought a green brittle starfish last week on Tuesday. The pet store had a display tank which they took down and put in separate tanks to be sold. The brittle starfish I bought was from that display tank. <The most common cause of problems with these animals is shipping stress. If this animal was already established in captivity, then it has to be something else...> My point is that now my starfish is like eating it's legs or something of the sort. It's folding it's legs under him and I don't know if he's just cutting them off or eating them (maybe both -.- ). Is he doing this because he's stressed from all the moving around or what? <Most likely, yes. These animals are very sensitive to changes in salinity and pH. It is most often recommended to acclimate them to a new tank over several hours and many folks actually use a "drip method" where a piece of airline with a loose knot is used to drip tank water into the bag water at a rate of one drop per second or so.> One more thing, my dad also moved the starfish from one side of the tank to the other because we were afraid it was going after the damsels since he was in their hiding place. Since we moved him, I feel he has been depressed or something. They told us to feed him once a month. Is he just hungry? I hope you can help, I really don't want him to die. <Usually, when these animals start losing arms, they are doomed. If it does recover, I would suggest small weekly feedings. I would also watch it carefully for signs of predatory behavior, as they are quite capable of capturing fish. Best Regards. AdamC.> Green Brittle Star Dying? 10/6/06 Hi, <Hello> I have a 45 gallon saltwater reef tank and have had a Green Brittle Star in there for about a year now. He is rather large and today I noticed one of my small anemones affixed itself to the brittle star's body (on the top). <!> Well, when I came home, all I saw was a little bit of the anemone's tentacles protruding from the upper part of brittle star's body.... Obviously he penetrated it's skin and had moved INSIDE the brittle star. <Mmm, likely the two were/are caught in a predaceous act... to the detriment of the Serpentstar> Well, the brittle star has continued to develop more "holes" on its upper body and is "hiding" by the filter versus behind the live rock (where it has remained for the last X months). Any advice.... Is the anemone eating the brittle star from the inside out... or is it the other way around?? <A bit of both. Please read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/brittlestardisfaqs.htm and the linked files above. BobF> Thanks, Craig Donnelly Just wanted to share... Shrinking Shrimp, predatory Brittlestar? This weekend I purchased four small peppermint shrimp hoping they would clean up some pesky Aiptasia in my tank. I read all that I could find to try to make sure they would be safe, but alas, they became the most expensive food I've ever put in my tank! I believe the green brittle star is the culprit. All of the shrimp were gone within a few hours. They were fairly small shrimp, but all of my fish are smaller than 3 inches long, so I'm pretty sure the brittle star got them. My husband keeps trying to convince me that maybe the shrimp are hiding, but my tank is only 55 gallons and I would expect to see at least one of them around feeding time. Anyway, I just thought that I would share with other hobbyists that small shrimp are not necessarily safe with a medium to large size brittle star, regardless of what the LFS tells you! Keep up the good work WWM crew! <Thanks for the encouragement! It is always possible that the shrimp are hiding. I put a very expensive fire shrimp in my tank on Saturday...haven't seen him since. Shrimp are experts at hiding. Keep watching around feeding time. Best of luck! David>
Reaching For The Stars (Starfish) We had a green brittle star that died. We thought perhaps it was that our floating salt thermometer was not working correctly, it showed a normal range but when we bought a gravity tester it showed 1.029. So we added to the tank more water and now we are at 1.023. All other tests look good, temp. at 78. Bought a new brittle star, only in tank 1 night and looks distressed. Legs curled up around body, they have not fallen off? Any ideas on what may be occurring. We are new to this. Thanks for any help. Sherry and Larry <Well, guys- Sea Stars in general, tend to contract fungal and bacterial diseases, often as a result of improper handling somewhere in the chain of custody from the reef to the hobbyist. In my opinion, it would be best to quarantine starfish just like you would fishes, prior to their introduction to the aquarium. You could use over-the-counter (aquarium store counter, that is!) antibiotic medications to treat these infections. Also, provide very stable, high-quality water conditions for these animals, and they can thrive. An often-overlooked aspect of starfish husbandry is selection. A healthy starfish should be rigid, and reactive to stimuli. And, of course, they really should have all of their arms! Look for any body damage, too. Another great test for a healthy star is to flip it upside down gently. A healthy animal will try to turn itself upright quickly. Do a complete review of your tank's water parameters, and pay careful attention to your husbandry techniques (water changes, protein skimming, etc. and you should be successful in the future with these animals! Maybe you should order a copy of "Reef Invertebrates" by Anthony, Bob, and Steven Pro...should provide lots of good information!. Take care- Regards, Scott F> Starfish Worries Hey guys <Just guy tonight, PF here.> I am working on a cleanup crew for my 29 gal (soon-to-be) reef tank. Currently, I have 1 large hermit, one small hermit, <You might want to get a bunch of empty shells for your hermits to move into, they're notorious for killing snails and stealing their shells, > 5 turbo snails, and I just got 2 green brittle star fish. Other live stock are 1 convict damsel, one yellow damsel, and a clown fish along with about 25lbs of LR. <You do know that damsels are highly territorial, if you ever plan on putting any other fish in, I would get the damsels out now,> I am concerned that the stars might feel like feasting on my little fish or snails if I don't feed them properly. <Yes indeed, the infamous green brittle is known to eat fish (I saw photos of one that ate a small mantis, the mantis objected and reenacted the dinner scene from Alien). I have been feeding flake food for my livestock; do I need to feed something else entirely that they can all share, add something else for the stars, or just use more flakes? <For the stars, I would recommend something meatier, say frozen (thawed of course) krill, small (like 1'x ¼') strips of fish or squid, etc. Be aware, these guys can get big, like 12'+ across big.> Thanks for the help! <Your welcome, sounds like a nice little tank so far.> Kenneth in Houston <PF in Eugene> Wounded green brittle starfish 7/18/03 I have a green brittle starfish that has opened on the top and it looks like a bunch of yellow seeds .It is still alive and doing well. what happened? <the creature has a wound caused by injury or septic infection. You may need to QT it... but do maintain superb water quality in the meantime and feed as best as you can to help it recover. Best regards, Anthony> -Brittle star infection- Hi All!! I am wondering about the different types of diseases for green brittle starfish. I have one that is having some major problems right now and don't know what is going on or how to treat it. Two days ago, I noticed some brown fungus looking "stuff" on the body of the star. I paid no attention as I figured it was algae that happened to settle onto it. The next day however, there was a chunk of skin missing from the star. <Ooo, sounds like it's getting an infection> I could see the orangish red coloring of its insides and to top it off, today was worse. It has since lost one arm which is wriggling about the aquarium and I can see down to the bone of the star. It still has the brownish colored stuff on it, but the chunk seems to be getting bigger. I don't know if some tankmate has been beating on it or if it is some sort of disease. Any type of help would be greatly appreciated. Star is quarantined, but I don't know how to help it. <That's great that it's quarantined, but unfortunately, it's very rare that they survive infections such as you're experiencing. Attempting antibiotics would be risky at best, so the best you can do is keep the water quality in tip-top shape by removing any dead/half-dead parts of the star should they begin to fall off. -Kevin> Thanks again, Todd -Seahorse compatibility- Lol...I just got done writing you about my blue/green Chromis in with my erectus seahorses! But, alas, I need your help once more... <That's what we're here for, fire away!> I went to a marine store near where I live in Ohio today (was supposed to buy some small crabs and such for both my 30 gallon tank of seahorses and for my 5 gallon of dwarf seahorses). Well, when I was in there I picked up a nudibranch ...Phyllidia arabica I realized tonight from reading on here. I am wondering now if I should not have bought this little bugger! <Well, do you know what it eats? Unfortunately, these things are incredibly hard to identify, and if you didn't collect it yourself, you have no way of knowing what it ate in the wild (they are usually specific feeders). Nudi's similar or the same as this one have been know to release toxins when damaged. All that said, it probably was not a smart buy.> I talked to the owner of the store and he told me it would do just fine in my tank with the seahorses. I also went in looking for a chocolate chip starfish, which I thought would make a wonderful addition, well....sigh...I let not only the owner, but my friend as well, talk me out of the chocolate chip and in to purchasing a green brittle star instead. <Hehe, come armed w/ info!> Again, the owner of the store said that it would do well in with the seahorses and I had nothing to worry about. <Green brittle stars are notorious for chowing on unsuspecting fish at night, I doubt that your seahorse would be immune from this.> I am now shaking my head and embarrassed to say that after reading up on both of my new purchases that it seems neither is right for my tank! <Hehe, unfortunately it happens to everybody. Try to learn from these mistakes and come into the store knowing what you want and how to keep it. If something is really cool and you're not sure about it, put it on hold and research it.> Am I just over reacting? I LOVE my seahorses and do not want to introduce them into harms way because of my lack of knowledge on these two specific species. Will my guys be okay with these two new additions, or should I remove them pronto? Any help on this quandary I have made for myself at the risk of my seahorses (wondering if I should start kicking myself now) would be gratefully appreciated! <If your LFS guy is cool, he may let you return what you've just bought. If you LOVE :) your seahorses, you'll want to remove them. Good luck! -Kevin> Thank you again, Jena Green brittle star diet (O. incrassata) 11/18/03 Hi Gang, <howdy> Love your site. <thanks kindly> I have read that green brittle stars can be fish eaters. <indeed... they are opportunistic and uncommonly predatory for a brittle star> I was not aware they might eat corals too. <not likely... more a predator on motile invertebrates like small shrimp... also will eat Tridacnid clams that fall and squirm to right themselves> This evening, while doing a water change I notice that my Xenia, normally waving in the current up front, was missing. I swear I had just seen it. Upon further inspection its rock had been pulled from the crevice I had it lodged in. After some searching I found the rock, with just a tattered fragment of Xenia flesh still attached, in a cave under my green brittle star. <interesting> I am assuming he (?) ate the Xenia. Can I expect more of this behaviour? <their attacks are somewhat random... but honestly they are an unsafe long term species for reef aquaria. Most any other brittle or serpent star is very safe though> A large mushroom which yesterday had nearly worked its way free to begin drifting about has also disappeared. I cannot find it at all. Thanks in advance, Scott Bartlett. <remit this star to a fish only tank perhaps... very fine scavenger as you have noticed. Seriously :) Anthony> Shrimp/Serpent Star Deaths Help me, Bob! Three days ago, I purchased from my trusted LFS three cleaner shrimp (all large, two carrying eggs) and one beautiful red serpent star. All were carefully acclimated. Water parameters perfect. Have other thriving serpent stars. The following morning, I found the newly-added red serpent laying still. I allowed several hours to pass before reaching in to try to see if I could coax movement, to no avail. I put him on a rock so I could gauge his movement. Waited a few more hours to see what happened, and he just hung there - definitely deceased. I removed the poor soul. Later that day, I noticed that my three new cleaner shrimp were missing. It has now been several days and not a trace. The only fish in the tank that may have done them some harm would be my flame hawk, but I didn't actually see him do anything. Is this a case of I did something wrong, or bad stock from the LFS? I should add that I also bought a small arrow crab at the same time, but he is doing just fine. What do you think the culprit is? Thanks for your advice, as always. Marilyn >> Yikes, though I love a mystery, I do not like to see anomalous animal losses or hobbyist-friends suffering. Unfortunately, I'd almost bet anything that the culprits) are your existing (green) serpent stars. This, in the middle of the night missing livestock, script is their MO for sure. Yes, the hawk might eat one small shrimp, and the Arrow Crab can/will grow to bothering/bothersome proportions... and, yes, maybe the LFS had some bad livestock... but all these losses? No, it's the stars. Either remove and trade them in, or reconcile yourself to only larger, aggressive or non-tasty tankmates. Bob Fenner Brittle star ambush Mr. Fenner I had an orchid Dottyback who was living inside an empty snail shell. This morning, I found my green brittle star next to the shell with the Dottyback in his mouth. I had heard that some brittle stars can be quite adept at catching sleeping fish, but had not experienced it first hand until now. Should I worry about the brittle star catching other fish? What can I do to keep this from happening again? Thank you. >> Yes. Remove it... Bob Fenner Sick Seastar I have a green brittle star that i just recently purchased...his legs are starting to fall off...first they are turning pink and then the spines are falling off and then his leg falls off. he is still alive but i want to make sure there is nothing wrong with him...i do have a horseshoe crab but the star is in a hard to reach cave...is there a bacteria eating him or is this normal. please help i am very worried. Thanks >> Not normal, and not a good sign... I suspect your brittle star was/is infected and its health impaired from collection, shipping and handling... It will either self-heal or perish... if the latter, do try and remove the remains from your system. Bob Fenner Sick Serpent Star Hi, I read your responses to other peoples questions and they were very helpful. <Ah, good> I have a green Serpent Star named Pepe that is about 4 years old and he has recently become quite sick. I noticed that one of his legs has detached from the socket and then later that day, a piece broke off of another leg. <Not good signs> I recently had an algae problem and my water quality is not the best right now. I have a 33 gallon hex tank with only have one other fish in the tank with some live rock. I thought if I slowly changed the water over a period of time to improve the water quality, it may help him. I vacuumed and changed only 4 gallons of water. The next day he broke off half of another leg and the next day another half. He is still trying to eat but he is having a hard time getting food. I also noticed that he has two large vertical openings underneath his disc on each side of one of his legs where I can see his insides. I can't tell if those are the only openings. Also, where he lost is full leg, now there is an opening to inside his disk. <Time to make much more concerted attempts at improving water quality...> I read all of your responses to related questions and was hopeful that he may recover but now I am not so sure. Should I continue to change a few gallons of water everyday to help improve his conditions or will that make matters worse? I also don't know what to do with the detached leg pieces. The are still moving and although I know they can't live forever, it seems weird to flush them when there are still alive. <I would make a massive (like half) water change if you can be sure the new water is "okay"... better if it were pre-made up and stored ahead of use... but I wouldn't wait even if it had to be made now and used... And do gravel vacuum the bottom in removing the present water. Also, I would add some activated carbon to your filter... And clean out whatever filter gear you do have in the process. Do you have live rock?> I'm sorry to send you such a lengthy e-mail and I appreciate any information that you can give me to help save Pepe's life. <The length of these messages is of little concern. Supplying enough information, expressing yourself is. Good luck my friend. Bob Fenner> Thanks, Gina Re: Sick Serpent Star Wow - I can't believe you responded so quickly. You are so sweet for sharing your knowledge with me. <An honor m'lady> I do have live rock in my tank. What percentage of water should I change at a time without hurting my other fish but still helping my Serpent Star? <Perhaps 20-25 percent.> You're the best. Thanks, Gina <Again, good luck my friend. Be of good life. Bob Fenner> Brittle stars hello , i have a green brittle star, in my tank, and i am wanting to buy a small snowflake eel, do you think they will get along ok <Yes, these two should. This species of Moray doesn't eat starfishes, and the Green Brittle Star should leave the Eel alone. Some info. on the Snowflake can be found on our site here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/snowflakemoray.htm and the Star here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/brittlestars.htm Be chatting. Bob Fenner> Re: brittle stars >thanks for the links, i just had a pet store to tell me i couldn't have an eel with my brittle star cause the eel would eat it <Mmm, no... this species mainly eats crustaceans in the wild. Take a look under the species name, Echidna nebulosa, in the scientific literature, e.g. fishbase.org. Bob Fenner>
Fish & Serpent Star Compatibility... Not!
9/12/07 I have a brown serpent star in a 125 gal FOWLR. <Because
of your concern, I am assuming you mean a Green Brittle stars,
(Ophiarachna incrassata). Does yours look like the guy on the top of
this page? http://www.wetwebmedia.com/brittlestaridfaqs.htm More here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/brittlestarcompfaqs.htm > I would like to
get a radiant wrasse (Halichoeres iridis) , but I'm concerned that
the serpent star may go after a sand dwelling fish. <Highly likely
if given the opportunity.> I have never seen it stalking fish
before, but I did witness it attacking a cleaner shrimp! <They can
be quite predatory.> The tuxedo urchins and star also leave each
other alone. If it would be too risky to house a wrasse with this star,
would the radiant wrasse be a good tank mate for seahorses? <No.
They have different system requirements. Seahorses require specialized
low flow systems. More here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/seahorsecare.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/tube-mfi.htm These two do not belong in the
same system.> Thank you for your insight. <Welcome! Mich> |
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