Thinking about a brittle sea star.

[tmscott89]

I currently have dwarf blue leg, yellow tip, and zebra hermit crabs in my tank, as well as cardinalfish, clownfish, and Green Chromis. I really have been wanting a brittle sea star but am wondering if any of my hermit crabs will attack/kill the brittle? Or if the brittle will do the same to them or any of my fish. I had a yellow tang but I believe hermits killed it which is why I’m on the fence.

 

[Bryson.bobby]

I have had hermits with my green brittle serpent for a few years now without any problems. Also, I doubt crabs will kill a yellow tang unless it was on the sand dying.

However, I have heard of the green serpents killing small fish but this have never happened to me before. I think it’s just the green ones you really have to worry about.

 

[tmscott89]

Well I didn’t see it happen but I’ve heard of cases where crabs have injured a sleeping fish. I tested my waters literally the day before on all the levels and a couple days after the fish died and everything was normal so I don’t see what else would have killed it

 

[Bryson.bobby]

Hmmm...I guess it could happen but it’s not likely imo. If you think the crabs could potentially kill the serpent you probably shouldn’t get one.

 

[Bryson.bobby]

double post

 

[TriggerFinger]

The green brittle star we had got very large and started trapping fish. It hid all day and only slithered out late at night, we never saw her. When the tank was taken down the body was the size of a baseball almost. This thing lived in our tank for roughly 9 years to get that big.

 

[Goodair]

9 years woa

 

[Bryson.bobby]

My green serpent seems to be dying[emoji53]

 

[tmscott89]

Bummer! Yeah I’m thinking I should just move all my larger hermits down to my sump just to be safe. And probably just buy a chocolate sea star since I have no coral in my tank yet

 

[Goodair]

My lfs guy told me to wait for a mature tank before any starfish, might be worth waiting if your tank is still new.

 

[tmscott89]

Good to know! Yeah my tank is only about 6 months old so I definitely wouldn’t call it a mature tank, I’m not even really sure how long it takes for a tank to be mature

 

[Bryson.bobby]

I think it will be ok for a brittle star in a newish setup because they feed on leftover food. I got mine a few months after setup.

 

[Barb0713]

Good to know! Yeah my tank is only about 6 months old so I definitely wouldn’t call it a mature tank, I’m not even really sure how long it takes for a tank to be mature

I have a 2 mile bth old tank and I have. Few fish , a few coral , a knobby brown brittle. He’s pretty big and he is doing great. I’ve had him about 3 weeks. I spot him .. but he’s active and happy. Doesn’t bother anything.

 

[56longroof]

I have several brittle stars and serpent stars in my tank. No issues that I have noticed so far.