Blunt spine brittle star reef safe?

Ironlink1000

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Hello! My LFS had a black blunt spine brittle star on sale and I made an impulse purchase because I love the way they look. I know most brittle stars are reef safe but I’ve read that some may eat fish. Does anyone have experience with this type of brittle star?
 

ISpeakForTheSeas

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The only brittle star commonly available in the hobby that is known for causing problems is the Green Serpent Star, Ophiarachna incrassata, so I'd assume yours is safe.

That said, do you have any white light pics of your new brittle star (preferably top-down, straight-on showing the whole star), or do you happen to know the scientific name of the star?
 
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Ironlink1000

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The only brittle star commonly available in the hobby that is known for causing problems is the Green Serpent Star, Ophiarachna incrassata, so I'd assume yours is safe.

That said, do you have any white light pics of your new brittle star (preferably top-down, straight-on showing the whole star), or do you happen to know the scientific name of the star?
“Ophiocoma echinata” and no I don’t have a picture handy unfortunately :(. It crawled into my rock work as soon as I put it into my tank. It had five arms and one of them was stubby (I suspect it detached and regrew). It is a very dark brown/blue that looks black.
 

ISpeakForTheSeas

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“Ophiocoma echinata” and no I don’t have a picture handy unfortunately :(. It crawled into my rock work as soon as I put it into my tank. It had five arms and one of them was stubby (I suspect it detached and regrew). It is a very dark brown/blue that looks black.
O. echinata is reportedly a suspension and deposit feeder species that feeds primarily on algae, so it should be harmless/beneficial.
 

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