Black Brittle Starfish

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Hello, so yesterday, I went to my LFS who tested my water and I got a blue lincktia and two Trochus snails to help with algae, anyway, from out of nowhere he came out with a black brittle starfish and he said he got it has a hitchhiker (We cannot get them here in Australia) so I was bloody excited. But I did some research and it says it is reef safe with caution and that it is semi aggressive. Will he hurt fish or coral or should I keep him well fed?

 

[AcroNem]

Only brittle stars I've had issues with are the large green ones. Unless this is a different species, a regular black brittle star shouldn't be a problem. Do you have a picture of it?

 

[Texas Rick]

I had one. He hide for the most part. Not aggressive forwards my fish or coral. Left them alone. Very shy, well the one I had was.

 

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Only brittle stars I've had issues with are the large green ones. Unless this is a different species, a regular black brittle star shouldn't be a problem. Do you have a picture of it?

As soon as I put him in he disappeared under a rock, darn spooky Patrick, He is small though

 

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I had one. He hide for the most part. Not aggressive forwards my fish or coral. Left them alone. Very shy, well the one I had was.

I think he eats detritus and sifts sand aswell

 

[Sipec]

The larger ones are supposedly nocturnal predators on fish, although I can't recall ever actually hearing of any fish casualties to them

 

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The larger ones are supposedly nocturnal predators on fish, although I can't recall ever actually hearing of any fish casualties to them

They do live for a long time so maybe it will be a while before he is large and he will hopefully get along with the fish and invert

 

[Sipec]

I wouldn't stress it, just might not be a bad idea to keep an eye on it

 

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I wouldn't stress it, just might not be a bad idea to keep an eye on it

Thanks, well I cannot even see him, as soon as I put him him right under a rock. But yeah I will watch him

 

[muzikalmatt]

If it's a micro brittle star then you don't have anything to worry about. I think I started with one or two that hitchhiked in some live rock and I probably have hundreds now. They are great members of the clean up crew, don't bother anything and are actually really fun to spot feed.

 

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If it's a micro brittle star then you don't have anything to worry about. I think I started with one or two that hitchhiked in some live rock and I probably have hundreds now. They are great members of the clean up crew, don't bother anything and are actually really fun to spot feed.

He is pretty small maybe 9-10cm including arms