FYI
Echinodermata - Ophiuroidea
The Green Death = Ophiarachna incrassata
This species of brittle star is one of the most voracious and destructive of predators that can be put into a reef tank. Ophiarachna incrassata have been documented to eat several species of aquarium fish, including fire fish, damsels, mandarin fish, blennies, small gobies, and cleaner wrasses. Additionally, they have been observed tearing other brittle stars apart to eat their gut contents, and they may have the same habit with sea anemones and corals. If that weren't enough they have also been observed to eat cleaner shrimp and other crustaceans.
They are beautiful animals, their base color is light green to olive, and they have a fine patterning of light, white or yellow, spots and dark, black or dark green, bands on the surface. The disk may be large, up to 5 cm across in a large animal, and relatively thick. When ingesting a large meal, the disk may assume the proportions of large marble or golf ball. A large specimen would be 50 cm across the arms. Animals about half this size are often seen for sale. The arms are relatively stout and highly muscular, for a brittle star, and there rows of evident spines running down the length of each arm.
These animals are harmless to aquarists, but literally appear able and willing to eat just about anything else in their tanks.
Their predatory habits notwithstanding they are interesting and quite striking in their coloration. If maintained in small species tank dedicated to their care, they will be excellent pets, however, they should not be maintained in a community tank.
