Coral banded shrimp and micro bristle stars

[yanni]

I’ve been considering getting some micro bristle stars to help diversify my CUC, and since I feel worrisome adding a starfish to a 20gal cube, this is a nice compromise. My only worry is my banded shrimp going crazy and eating them all, as I know they’re omnivorous. He’s well fed for the most part, but sitll lunges at fish from time to time (whether that be to clean or eat, I’m not sure, and the clowns seem to enjoy teasing him)

will the shrimp go crazy and eat them all, or will they hide too well/reproduce too fast to be of concern?

also, can anyone else recommend some cool u for a reef tank?

 

[blaxsun]

When I had my CBS he left all the starfish alone, but YMMV. Cool U...?

 

[1epauletteshark]

I have no experience but I would lean towards depends. If it lunges your fish, chances are if it came along micro bristle stars in your tank, it would think they are a snack.

 

[LordofCinder]

IDK. I know i have micro brittle stars in the tank, but I don't know if the CBS eats them.

I keep my CBS well fed, he leaves the hermits and snails alone, so I don't see why it would specifically go after micro brittle stars.

My CBS lunges too when the azure damsel gets too close. I love it, its like the coyote, and the fish is like the roadrunner. CBS tries, but it has no chance of ever catching it...

 

[yanni]

I have no experience but I would lean towards depends. If it lunges your fish, chances are if it came along micro bristle stars in your tank, it would think they are a snack.

I guess the stars will be good hiders and reproduce pretty quickly, worst case they are a good snack, best case they reproduce to food levels that allow a population, and the shrimp acts as a population control

 

[yanni]

IDK. I know i have micro brittle stars in the tank, but I don't know if the CBS eats them.

I keep my CBS well fed, he leaves the hermits and snails alone, so I don't see why it would specifically go after micro brittle stars.

My CBS lunges too when the azure damsel gets too close. I love it, its like the coyote, and the fish is like the roadrunner. CBS tries, but it has no chance of ever catching it...

Yeah this is exactly what mine is like!! He lunges everything when it’s first introduced, but quickly grows bored, only lunging when things go near him. Although, today I caught him and my lawnmower blenny hanging out together watching the world go by haha

 

[LordofCinder]

Yeah this is exactly what mine is like!! He lunges everything when it’s first introduced, but quickly grows bored, only lunging when things go near him. Although, today I caught him and my lawnmower blenny hanging out together watching the world go by haha

yeah its funny, my CBS lunges at the damsel when it gets close, but they sleep together in the same skull ornament lol

 

[yanni]

yeah its funny, my CBS lunges at the damsel when it gets close, but they sleep together in the same skull ornament lol

Hahaha, the CBS are such interesting shrimps. I love the boxer style shrimps, they look so big and alien. Truly a unique shrimp in terms of appearance and even personalities

 

[Stomatopods17]

IME you'll never see the micro brittles and the CBS never will either. They're super tucked away in the rock and CBS don't really go around picking inside of the rock.