Brittle star?it okay

[reef lover33]

I found him this morning while cleaning I've always been told that brittles are bad have read though that they are okay.I only have serpents stars in my tank.

 

[Sophie"s mom]

How big is it? There are micro brittle stars that are awesome. My tank probably has at least 50 of them. But the full size ones can eat things you would prefer them not to.

 

[exnisstech]

Looks pretty small using the markings on the container for comparison. I would release it. I have brittle stars and they have never hurt anything. It's kind of interesting watching their arms come up out of the rocks reaching for food.

 

[reef lover33]

How big is it? There are micro brittle stars that are awesome. My tank probably has at least 50 of them. But the full size ones can eat things you would prefer them not to.

Maybe in total the size of a nickel

 

[twentyleagues]

Micros are fine, in fact helpful. They move around the tank at night eating leftovers that could otherwise rot. Pretty much the same as bristleworms just better looking.

 

[NanoNana]

I found him this morning while cleaning I've always been told that brittles are bad have read though that they are okay.I only have serpents stars in my tank.

Serpent stars which you have, can and will catch and eat shrimp and fish. Green serpent stars are more notorious for it but anytime you see them in that table posture where they stand up on their legs with their back flat, the are waiting for an eligible food source to take refuge under their canopy and then they pounce. My banded serpent has started doing this near where I hang the sea veggies sheets just waiting on small crabs. I target or hand feed it to keep it from hunting with any real purpose.

 

[reef lover33]

Micros are fine, in fact helpful. They move around the tank at night eating leftovers that could otherwise rot. Pretty much the same as bristleworms just better looking.

Is there any way to tell the difference between a micro and a regular size brittle at that size?

 

[Sophie"s mom]

Maybe in total the size of a nickel

Yeah thats about how big all of mine are. Really, as long you keep your tank fed, even if it's full size, it should be fine. and as another said, it's really pretty cool to watch them in a tank. I used to have a full size one, from tip to tip of legs he was maybe a foot. but you never really saw him. Just when I would feed the tank, I would see a couple of his legs just unroll out, grab some food, then roll back up.

 

[twentyleagues]

Is there any way to tell the difference between a micro and a regular size brittle at that size?

Its most likely a micro. unless you purchased full size brittlestars and they mated.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Serpent stars which you have, can and will catch and eat shrimp and fish. Green serpent stars are more notorious for it but anytime you see them in that table posture where they stand up on their legs with their back flat, the are waiting for an eligible food source to take refuge under their canopy and then they pounce. My banded serpent has started doing this near where I hang the sea veggies sheets just waiting on small crabs. I target or hand feed it to keep it from hunting with any real purpose.

This is a micro- brittle star. Good guy.

 

[Tradevg]

Looks like I have the same, the legs look about an inch long. Found it hanging out in the Xenia. Leave it? Thanks.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Looks like I have the same, the legs look about an inch long. Found it hanging out in the Xenia. Leave it? Thanks.

Leave it

 

[Tradevg]

Leave it

Thank you.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Thank you.

You'll likely see more over time.