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Thread: Brittle starfish

  1. #1
    Join Date
    02-03-2010
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    New Braunfels, Texas
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    1,202

    Default Brittle starfish

    So I have 2 brittle star fish in my refigium. I've been putting off adding them to my display. Ones a black banded brittle star and ones a redish orange color. Does anyone else have one in their reef tank? I use to have one in my old tank but not in my current tank. I read online that they are reef safe but could attack small slowing moving fish. Should I be worried about anything as long as they stay well fed?

  2. #2
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    02-03-2010
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    New Braunfels, Texas
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    Default

    Bump

  3. #3
    Join Date
    05-19-2010
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    Bandera and Eckhert
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    Default

    This is a good question. I had a couple before 210 went down and had to find them another home. They are the coolest starfish how they move around to get peeled shrimp and food.

    Im tempted to get a few. I have heard, when they get big they stand on all their legs and when a fish goes under them and stops the starfish will eat them alive. yep
    happy reefing
    Lets ride

  4. #4
    Join Date
    06-11-2010
    Location
    Santa Anna, Tx
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    Default

    I know for a fact that green brittle stars are predators and will actively hunt fish, particularly at night. Honestly, I wouldn't trust any brittle star. In some circles, "reef safe" just means that something won't eat your corals.
    Support marine aquaculture, and share with your friends! Then you will find out who they really are.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    02-03-2010
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    New Braunfels, Texas
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    Man I hate times like this. I really love the way they look and react but don't know if the risk is worth the reward. If I don't put them in the display would they be ok to keep in the refugium? I hand feed them every other night.

  6. #6

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    I kept a black banded brittle in my old fuge for almost a year with no issues. It did a good job as a clean up crew down there.
    I forgot about it being down there and when I tore the tank down I had a tricolor wrasse that freaked out and jumped down the overflow and took the ride down to the sump. Since I was tearing down the tank I just put the wrasse in the fuge for a chance to calm down and chill. Remember I said I forgot about the starfish? Next day my wrasse was no where to be found and I had a smiling fat starfish. They will hunt stuff down when they get the urge
    Last edited by FireWater; Sat, 22nd Dec 2012 at 07:51 PM.
    John

    "Critics are men who watch a battle from a high place and then come down and shoot the survivors." Ernest Hemingway

  7. #7
    Join Date
    02-03-2010
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    New Braunfels, Texas
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    Default

    Well until I can dedicate a tank to just them and other starfish I guess they will stay in the refugium.

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