Green Brittle Star and Tiny White Stars?

[MadamePoisson]

I have had a green brittle starfish, Stella, in my tank for about 11 months. Yesterday I noiced several tiny white things that looked as though they may be baby brittles! Is that possible? They are on two top rocks. I haven't seen them moving about like a brittle, but their bristley arms are moving all about! Are they something else?
Also, I keep reading all of this negative stuff about green brittles eating fish! So far so good with mine! Should I be worried? If he becomes a problem, can I keep him in my Tidepool sump (in a cabinet below my tank)? Or would be need some daylight time?
Thanks for your help!

 

[Anonymous]

Just watch him (yeah, you're spot on about beware the green brittle, but, IIRC it's a specific species). No, he won't need daylight hours, just stuff to eat.

 

[dizzy]

Madame,
Believe it or not the green brittle stars begin life bright orange. Sorry the picture isn't better. They were about 4mm tip to tip.

 

[MadamePoisson]

Thanks for the replies! Mitch, have you been breeding them? They are so cute! Funny that they start out orange! Anyone know what the white things in my tank are? Maybe a kind of worm?

 

[Anonymous]

More than likely they start out life that color because, as with red, it's the first wavelength of the spectrum to be absorbed by water.

If your little thingies look like seastars, chances are that's what they are.

As to particular species...that's anyone's guess. BUT! Take their presence as a testament to your husbandry!

 

[Marrowbone]

Madame,

I would suspect that the little legs you see could be a smaller species of brittle star that is very common in reef tanks. When I first noticed mine that had hitch hiked on some new rock, they were very reclusive, only sticking a few legs out of a hole and waving them around looking for food. Eventually I saw one pull it's body out of a hole and there was no mistaking it. Now when I target feed my corals, some of them come out with the bristleworms and drag meaty bits back into the rock.

From what I have read, these little stars only get about an inch or so across and unlike some other stars, can reproduce easily in your tank. 8)

 

[dizzy]

Thanks for the replies! Mitch, have you been breeding them? They are so cute! Funny that they start out orange! Anyone know what the white things in my tank are? Maybe a kind of worm?

Madame Poisson,
I just had the one spawn back in 1996 I believe. I wrote an article about it for Seascope and later in FAMA. I also had some pictures published in The Modern Coral Reef Aquarium Vol. IV by Nilsen and Fossa. I still have one of the "babies". I have managed to stunt it and it lives in a 3.5 gallon tank. I guess it is about 6" tip to tip, which seems quite small for one that age. It lives quite peacefully with a yellowhead jaw and has for several years. I think it is the larger ones that turn killers.

 

[MadamePoisson]

Wow! Thanks everyone for the info! :lol:

Marrowbone, I believe they are what you have! They are just as you described! I am assuming they remain small? The largest one I have seen is about the size of a dime...including the central disc and all 5 legs.

I am a bit worried about the green brittle star as he grows! I have an orchid dottyback, a pair of percula clowns (who have begun spawning!) and 2 blue damsels who will all remain smaller. I also have a pink-spotted shrimp goby. He is surely too big for the green brittle star. I am thinking he may be sump bound. I just LOVE him so! So does everyone who visits!