Brittle Stars

david · 07-15-2003, 09:35 AM

Hi every body,
I was thinking about getting a brittle star from a local retailer he has had them awhile and they seem to be pretty healthy.Now I read up on things before I get them. So here's my question: I have read they call them brittle stars well, because they are brittle (legs fall off easily when handled). So how should I expect the store owner to get one from the tank? Is it normal for some of the legs to break off when you bag them? Oh and thank you every one for all the help!!

Matt Rogers · 07-15-2003, 10:43 AM

I think you are thinking too much David!

Holding tanks usually don't have a lot of rocks and such in them, so they should probably be able to get to it easily enough without harming them.

Jason McKenzie · 07-15-2003, 02:12 PM

I had a brittle star come with some cured LR and I wanted it out of my 10G. Let's just say it wasn't too brittle. He is still doing very well at a friends place.

J

david · 07-16-2003, 11:00 AM

yes, matt my minds always going a mile a minute!

Gresham · 07-17-2003, 10:14 PM

David -

Brittle stars aren't "brittle", they're a pretty hardy critter. There are a few general rules to handling them though, don't pull on a leg as it will come off at some point and don't let you cat play with them. There are a few delicate ones, like the deep water red serpeant star from the caribbean (don't remove from water, add straight to tank---don't handle them, they'll loose legs) and the tassled ones (hard to find). I'd stay away from the green/yellow/orange serpeant stars as they can and will eat small fish (and stupid large ones).

david · 07-18-2003, 10:40 AM

Wow! I must need to get a different book. I pulled it out last night just to make sure and sure enough it said they were extreamly brittle and could break apart very easily!!Thanks for the input gresham these stars I'm lookin' at are yellow. But I belive they are yellow brittle stars. Is it just the yellow serpant stars you gotta whatch out for?

Gresham · 07-18-2003, 08:56 PM

Common names, watch out for them. If its yellow, its most likely a yellow serpeant star(does it have black patterns(bristles) on it?) I'll dig up a pic for you. Yes, they can break apart fairly easily, but with simple common sense, you'll have no problems. I ship them all the time, 100% of legs on arrival, every time. Brittle stars are a favorite in touch tanks in public aquariums, they wouldn't be there if they were to brittle to touch.

Gresham · 07-18-2003, 09:13 PM

ok, with a quick google search, I found this pic. Just imagine it yellow, are those the same patterns?

david · 07-19-2003, 03:14 AM

Yes, I think it does have the bristles on it I'm not sure though. I'm drivin' down there today, if it doesn't have any bristles I won't pick one up!! Thanks, I mainly want it to break up small clumps of sand that I see in my tank I heard they were good for moving the sand about!

david · 07-19-2003, 08:43 AM

O.K. sorry it wasn't yellow at all it is kinda red and yes it has bristles on it. But they arn't black they are kinda grey/ red themselves.You can't make them out in the pic. but this is it right after I released it! Hope it's a brittle not a serpant (sorry my little camera doesn't take a very good pic!)