Brittle Star, should I keep it?

[AstroCoral]

TLDR: Brittle star survived revive dip and days in plastic bag at room temperature. Will it kill my 1/2inch nano goby as it gets bigger?

Hello everyone, I dipped my new frogspawn a few days ago. Two small brittle stars fell out of the head and looked to have died. I didn’t think much of it, fast forward three days. I picked up the plastic transport bag to throw it away only to find the two small starfish are still alive in a very small amount of water. I have an extremely small nano goby in the tank so I’m concerned this brittle star will grow to an extremely large size and kill my nano goby. Can anyone ID this before I acclimate it to the tank? If there is any possibility that it may grow to the size that it will kill my goby then I’m probably not going to add it to the tank.

 

[steveschuerger]

I’d add it. Beneficial hitcher. I’ve got both larger and micro sized and they don’t bother anything.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

I’d add it too - most brittle stars are harmless/beneficial, with the only predatory one I know of in the hobby being the large green “serpent star” (Ophiarachna incrassata).

 

[AstroCoral]

I’d add it. Beneficial hitcher. I’ve got both larger and micro sized and they don’t bother anything.

I’d add it too - most brittle stars are harmless/beneficial, with the only predatory one I know of in the hobby being the large green “serpent star” (Ophiarachna incrassata).

Thank you both! I greatly appreciate it, I started acclimating them.

 

[Tomorrow's Waters]

View attachment 3029600TLDR: Brittle star survived revive dip and days in plastic bag at room temperature. Will it kill my 1/2inch nano goby as it gets bigger?

Hello everyone, I dipped my new frogspawn a few days ago. Two small brittle stars fell out of the head and looked to have died. I didn’t think much of it, fast forward three days. I picked up the plastic transport bag to throw it away only to find the two small starfish are still alive in a very small amount of water. I have an extremely small nano goby in the tank so I’m concerned this brittle star will grow to an extremely large size and kill my nano goby. Can anyone ID this before I acclimate it to the tank? If there is any possibility that it may grow to the size that it will kill my goby then I’m probably not going to add it to the tank.

KEEP! This type of brittle star will remain small and multiply like crazy. Great clean up crew and will have no impact on your goby.

 

[mww00ds]

Keep it. This is living gold for your tank. Like other have said, they are a few addition to your cuc.

 

[Fish Styx]

Yes! Great hitchiker.

 

[ReefKatz]

That’s a win in my book. I’ve seen people sell those online. They stay small and help to clean up leftover waste.