SPS and Micro Brittle Stars

[ellebelle]

I just got home from a conference I was at all week and I was examining my tank for gains and losses. I noticed that I had some tissue recession on my digitata. When the lights went out, I realized why.

The largest microbrittle star I've ever seen was hanging on it. Here is a picture of it with the light off, and one after a flipped the lights on.

Once I saw this one, I started looking around (especially after I flipped on the lights) and I saw tons of them scurring into little holes - only they aren't so micro anymore.

Is this a common problem among SPS keepers? Or am I just blessed with a mutant strain of "micro" brittle stars? (To be clear, I know that the micro brittles aren't EATING the SPS; they are irritating the SPS with their legs.)

Also, how do you recommend I reduce my micro brittle population? Will harlequin shrimp eat them?

 

[nanoreefer22]

Damn Lissa. I'm not sure about the harlequin but I hope you find a way of controlling the star population.

 

[ellebelle]

When I walked passed my tank, it totally freaked me out at first! I was trying to figure out what kind of crazy hitchhiker I managed to acquire.

They are literally everywhere. I just looked at my tank and there isn't a single coral PERIOD that doesn't have at minimum one micro brittle star on it. Most of them have MULTIPLE micro brittles on them. :sad2:

 

[NYreefNoob]

are they eating it or are the corals just irritated ?

 

[jhale]

see i told you they were bad :Blurp:
I've never seen any on my corals. I'll have to look at night now.

 

[ellebelle]

are they eating it or are the corals just irritated ?

As I stated in my original post, they ARE NOT eating my corals. They are merely irritating them.

And Jon, I still think they are overall good because they eat detritus. They have just reached plague proportions in my tank.

 

[JARRETT SHARK]

I Have Thousands In My 75 And Never Had A Problem,when I Sell Rock From The Tank More People Ask Me If I Can Catch Them And Give Them More.they Eat Like Hermit Crabs.(everthing).I THINK REEF SAFE

 

[ellebelle]

READING IS FUNDAMENTAL.

I KNOW they are reef safe. As I said, they aren't EATING any of my corals. I just have so many that the actual waving of their legs is causing tissue recession on at least one of my SPS corals. I want to reduce their numbers. Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

[EmilyT]

:lol2: RIF

 

[Deanos]

READING IS FUNDAMENTAL.

:inlove::hug:

 

[EmilyT]

LOL i didnt see lissa write Reading is fundamental!!! :duh:
:lol2: ok:backtotop

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Harleys will eat them Lissa. But they will eat all of them.

 

[ellebelle]

Is there anything else that will eat them that I won't have to continue feeding starfish?

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Not that I know of Lissa. I just looked through a few books and the only thing I can find is Harleys.

 

[ellebelle]

Anyone have other suggestions?

 

[House of Laughter]

any halichoeres wrasse will eat them but the larger ones really like them. Marginatus, Leopard, ornate etc. Crysus, not so much but can and the others are "seekers"

House

 

[LeslieS]

Lissa, the last thing you need is more fish See if you can borrow Kathy's harley. I think she wanted to get rid of him once her asterina are under control.

 

[Bob 1000]

I don't have a problem with mines crawling over my sps.. They've gotten quite large like yours.... I just pick them off every once and a while I throw them in the octopus tank.. They love all detritus in there, my octopussy eats daily in a 20 gallon... And if anyone needs some stars I can bring 100 to the swap from that tank alone...

 

[ellebelle]

Thanks Jim. The wrasse is a no-go as my female pylei is still alive and kicking and looking better.

 

[DevIouS]

Harly's will not eat brittles.


My Radiants eat them. Only if they are in open site though. Not when they're in the crevices waving thier arms.


Curious:
Is your Pylei agressive towards othe wrasse species besides Fairy's?