Brittle Star Question

[JarJarBlinks]

Hi,

I recently aquired a brittle star, knowing that they are scavangers and that they are cool, and I have a few questions.

http://www.treasure-divers.com/PhotoGal ... ar_JPG.jpg
Mine looks like this except it is solid gray.

1. What are those thicker "hairs" on its legs?
2. I know it is a scavanger, but
A. Will it eat my peppermint shrimp, snails(astrea, turbo, conch), or firefish, clownfish, or dwarf angel?
3. What should I feed it, considering that there isnt enough food in my 45 FOWLR for it alone?

 

[Anonymous]

The only answer I can give is that I have had a brittle star and he has not bothered anything else in my tank.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi,

I recently aquired a brittle star, knowing that they are scavangers and that they are cool, and I have a few questions.

http://www.treasure-divers.com/PhotoGal ... ar_JPG.jpg
Mine looks like this except it is solid gray.

1. What are those thicker "hairs" on its legs?
2. I know it is a scavanger, but
A. Will it eat my peppermint shrimp, snails(astrea, turbo, conch), or firefish, clownfish, or dwarf angel?
3. What should I feed it, considering that there isnt enough food in my 45 FOWLR for it alone?

I have one just like the one in the pic..............the hairs are called Pubic Hairs............and mine has not bothered anything...they will eat any crap left over after feedin your fish......don't worry about it.....seriously......feed your fish and your Star will have plenty of leftover crap to eat. Mine even comes out durin the day now that I have duct taped a pic of a a very lovely Brittle Star in heels and nylons on the back of the tank. Woweeeeee!........ even kind of warmed me up!

 

[Casie]

The thicker hairs on your star are simply called spines. Ophiuroids feed on a variety of small particles, either browsing food from the bottom or suspension feeding. Some brittle stars extend arms into the water flow to catch suspended particles in mucous strands between it's arm spines. The smaller tube feet are called podia, and are used in transferring food to the mouth.

Like the other posters mentioned, your snails, shrimp and small fish are in no danger as long as your star is finding enough scavenged food to eat. But like most animals, if faced with stavation it can become a predator as a last resort.

You will really enjoy feeding your star small bits of shrimp, fish, or clam! Brittle stars are beautiful animals!

 

[Expos Forever]

Excellent and informative first post Casie! It never ceases to amaze me that some reef keepers find brittles creepy. My brittle is definetly one of my favorite animals. Mine loves scallops!