who ate my new brittlestar?

hello all! I am completely new to forums, but not to the hobby.

Concern with 20 gallon reef tank. My last brittlestar lived for 8 years and was a great entertainer. He was golden. Just bought a new one 4" typical grey/blue. very healthy. Noticed one arm completely chewed off within 48 hours. The next morning he was in three pieces around my tank. Still wiggling those detached arms. Clear nibble marks revealing white flesh like he was chewed from inside out... Who ate him?

Currently have one dominant clown (14 years old+) and two well fed damsels. Hidden bristle worms? otherwise really gently corals, mushrooms & pipe organ & xenias. WHO/WHAT ate him?

have small outbreak of starfish eating my coralline... Is it them?
thanks for input!

 

Brittle Stars will sometimes loose arms from acclimation stress. If you have crabs or hermits I would assume they probably munched on the pieces as it's hard for one arm to climb away quickly. I would check your parameter though, the water chemistry could have been very different that tank the Brittle Star came from.

Is the other Brittle Star still in the tank or just the new one?

Welcome to 3reef.

Moved to ------- Inverts

 

I have had this problem. Either the new brittle star was stressed and it chewed itself apart (I had a couple do this), or the old brittle star may have attacked it (I have a huge green brittle and it tore a couple littler black brittles to shreds).

I would do what Corailline said and check your water parameters, and even if they come back normal do a good water change once a week.

If it just a case of your older star being aggressive, then there isn't much that you can do...