brittlestarzilla!!!

I love these guys, I think I have 10 or so all hitch hikers on rock. Cool pics!

 

This is just a small list of different types of Brittle Stars and Serpent Stars found in aquariums.

Courtesy of Saltcorner:Browse Species in Brittle Stars

Family Amphiuridae
Amphiura filiformis (Brittle Star)
Family Ophiactidae
Ophiactis savignyi (Savigny's Brittle Star)NOT Suitable for Reef Aquariums
Family Ophiocomidae
Ophiocoma echinata (Blunt-spined Brittle Star)
Ophiocoma pumila (Banded Brittle Star)
Ophiocoma riisei (Red Brittle Star)Suitable for Reef Aquariums
Ophiocoma scolopendrina (Millipede Brittle Star)Suitable for Reef Aquariums
Ophiomastix variabilis (Elegant Brittle Star)NOT Suitable for Reef Aquariums
Family Ophiodermatidae
Ophiarachna affinis (Spider Brittle Star)Suitable for Reef Aquariums
Ophiarachna incrassata (Green Brittle Star)Suitable for Reef Aquariums
Ophioderma appressum (Banded/Harlequin Brittle Star)Suitable for Reef Aquariums
Ophioderma brevispinum (Short-spined Brittle Star/Green & White Stripped Star)Suitable for Reef Aquariums
Ophioderma phoenium (Heart Brittle Star)Suitable for Reef Aquariums
Ophioderma rubicundum (Ruby Brittle Star)Suitable for Reef Aquariums
Family Ophiomyxidae
Ophiomyxa flaccida (Slimy Brittle Star)
Family Ophionereididae
Ophionereis porrecta (Brittle Star)Suitable for Reef Aquariums
Ophionereis schayeri (Schayer's Brittle Star)Suitable for Reef Aquariums
Family Ophiotrichidae
Ophiothrix fragilis (Blue-Star Brittle Star)
Ophiothrix purpurea (Purple Brittle Star)Suitable for Reef Aquariums
Ophiothrix sp. 1 (Unknown)
Ophiothrix sp. 2 (Unknown)
Ophiothrix suensoni (Sponge Brittle Star)Suitable for Reef Aquariums
Family Ophiuridae
Macrophiothrix variabilis (Green Brittle Star)NOT Suitable for Reef AquariumsNOT Suitable for Fish-Only Aquariums
Ophiolepis superba (Superb Brittle Star)NOT Suitable for Reef Aquariums
Ophiura albida (Brittle Star)
Ophiura ophiura (Serpent Brittle Star)

Any Brittle or Serpent will clean up a dead/ill or dying fish. Green Serpents and sometimes Banded can be fish eaters, it's well documented.

The vast majority of the hitch-hiking Brittle stars are harmless.

Here is a Green Serpent hunting a fish:
http://echinoblog.blogspot.com/2008/11/giant-green-brittle-stars-of-death-when.html

 

Merci cora

 

Not a chance. It ate 3 fish total. the first 2 seemed like they disappeared and were smaller. The Tang was healthy and swimming through the rock and went in the wrong place at the wrong time. I saw his demise.

I'm not saying to pull it out of your tank. I just wouldn't let it get very big because they can eat things larger than themselves.

 

Size seems to be the most important factor. Large brittlestars (like, 6 inches or more, spread out) may kill shrimp, crabs, or fish, and sometimes snails. Some of the ones that are considered to be generally safe can still assassinate your residents after they grow really large.

Cheers,


Don