Random Brittle Star

[Cheems]

So I recently went to reefapalooza and I bought a coral frag and it had a brittle star on it. I’m not a big fan of the look of them and I don’t really know what type it is and if it’s a nuisance.

I’m not really sure what to do with it, is it good or bad? I would feel bad just killing it but if it’s a problem then I suppose I could

 

[shcrimps]

personally never had a problem with them
but then again mine stay in the rocks and wave at me and i think its funny @ISpeakForTheSeas might know the exact kind?

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

personally never had a problem with them
but then again mine stay in the rocks and wave at me and i think its funny @ISpeakForTheSeas might know the exact kind?

I'm not sure the exact kind, unfortunately (I need to research brittle star ID more), but it's extremely likely that it's harmless/beneficial:

I've got a lot of learning to do with brittle stars (I need to go through and figure out some of the higher taxonomic diagnostic characteristics for them, but the few I've looked at ID'ing in depth require some pretty intensive photography to ID).

Anyway, most brittle stars in the hobby are totally fine/keepers - the only exception I can recall seeing so far is the Green Serpent Star, Ophiarachna incrassata, which is known to eat sleeping fish.