brittlestar

I have a brown brittlestar in my fish only tank. I also have a reef tank where I feel it will do more good stirring the sandy bottom. Is it safe in the reef tank? I read where a "green" variety is not a good idea...

 

Bright yellow ones are quite dangerous as well.

The more drab ones are usually quite safe. Each animal is an individual so it would be a good idea to target feed it occasionally.

 

Green, yellow, red and orange sepreant stars from the pacific are bad residents typically, ones from the Atlantic aren't. A bit general, but it works

 

for me I'll never have one in my reef tank again because at night they knock over stuff in the tank when they get to big. :-/

 

I have to dissagree. At least in my case. I have one very large Green Brittlestar in my tank ( about 14 inches ) and another one about 10 inches ) along with serpent star. All in a 55 gallon with a few fish and 1 fire shrimp ( the expensive 30 dollar ones ) and a coral banded shrimp. Mine never knock over my corals and I have about 60 corals in this tank...its full of corals. I feed them 2 to 3 times a week with smaller chunks of fresh seafood like clams and shrimp and squid. About the size of a quarter for the big one and nicle size for the smaller one. They behave very well. They did used to try to eat my snails and I lost one green hawaianshrimp but that was before I started feeding them every week. They do come out of the rocks at noght and move around but I dont rember the last time they knocked any over. I have had them for over a year with my shrimps and fish without any mortalities.

Just thought I would put in my 2 cents. Mabey I just have well behaved starfish I dont know. ;D

Jay