black brittle star, a killer?

[Jack_L]

have any of you ever had a BLACK brittle start take out a fish, say maybe a yellow watchman goby that lived under a rock? i was told by LFS and read the black stars were harmless, but something suspicous happened.

 

[GHOSTLY]

If the fish was sick first its most likely. They are opportunistic but I haven't heard of them being hunters. Unless your watchman was Itty bitty and you bought a big star

 

[mcarroll]

have any of you ever had a BLACK brittle start take out a fish, say maybe a yellow watchman goby that lived under a rock? i was told by LFS and read the black stars were harmless, but something suspicous happened.

Color is only relevant as a predictor of size. Yours was probably appropriate for the tank size.

I think they are all opportunistic scavengers that are VERY capable of hunting if the need arises. Like if we aren't target feeding them because we consider them scavengers.....

I had a brown serpent star do that to a porcelain crab of mine.....he looked ridiculous with a whole crab in his "belly" but I guess they don't know how they look. ;)

If you keep a serpent or brittle star, feed it. I bet that preempts hunting instincts pretty well.

Micro brittle stars are much more fun.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I used to keep a red serpent star and for years my small fish (clown gobies, neon gobies, etc..) would suddenly disappear after some time, always a night time disappearance. I don't keep brittle or serpent stars anymore.