Brittle or Micro Brittle?

Discussion in 'Inverts' started by Steve34, Jan 15, 2012.

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  1. Steve34

    Steve34 Feather Star

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    I was cleaning out a filter tonight when I saw something move. I found a tiny starfish.

    I think it's a brittle star, but I understand there is also a Micro Brittle star.

    How do you discern the difference between a baby brittle and a micro brittle?

    I shall name him Kaiser Soze because I suspect I shall never see it again.
     

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  3. Steve34

    Steve34 Feather Star

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    by the way, good lesson in paying attention before you rinse something out with hot water
     
  4. Corailline

    Corailline Super Moderator

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    It is a dry heat, yeah right !
    You're like me I save all that stuff when I clean my sponges even the pods. Heck I fell bad cleaning the sponges off my heater every year.

    And yes harmless micro brittle.

    Nice to see you again too. :)
     
  5. Annabana27

    Annabana27 Bristle Worm

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    Haha omg I found one of these guys in my tank today as well !
     
  6. Steve34

    Steve34 Feather Star

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    I figure if it's alive and beneficial I have no business killing it and wasting it's life or potential benefit to my tank because I'm too lazy to double check everything.

    Nice to see you again as well, life has been busy lately so I've not had much time to stop in and fulfill my 3reef fix.

    hey we can be brittle star bff's lol

    how long did it take for you to completely lose yours again? It took me about 2 minutes, well technically I watched it after I put it back into my tank for two minutes then I turned around and voila it was gone.
     
  7. Ashevillian

    Ashevillian Pajama Cardinal

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    Wish I could goto the LFS and get more of these! I have only seen a few and that was when I first added my LR when they hitch hiked in. Would love to know a way to add more of these to the tank! Great detritus eaters
     
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  9. Annabana27

    Annabana27 Bristle Worm

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    Haha about the same! They are actually pretty fast!'
     
  10. SushiGirl

    SushiGirl Barracuda

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    I got a great series of pics the other day of a mini brittle hauling it across my fuge glass. I flipped on the light & it was like "Doh!" LOL

    I usually call the ones with stripes mini brittles, most of mine are about silver dollar size leg-tip to leg-tip. I also have what I call micro brittles, which have maybe a dime leg span and are all white.

    [​IMG]

    View attachment 46780
     
    Last edited: May 2, 2012
  11. Steve34

    Steve34 Feather Star

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    In this tank I only bought one piece of life rock to seed the tank during cycle. one other piece of LR came from my existing tank and I've never seen any stars in that tank.

    Makes me want to go back to that same store and see if I can get some more ;D
     
  12. Steve34

    Steve34 Feather Star

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    Nice pic, I first thought mine was a stinking worm so I almost roasted it just based on that fact alone. It's probably 50 cent sized right now.

    do they split like other stars?