Green brittle star diet (O. incrassata) 11/18/03 Hi Gang, <howdy> Love your site.   <thanks kindly> I have read that green brittle stars can be fish eaters.   <indeed... they are opportunistic and uncommonly predatory for a brittle star> I was not aware they might eat corals too.   <not likely... more a predator on motile invertebrates like small shrimp... also will eat Tridacnid clams that fall and squirm to right themselves> This evening, while doing a water change I notice that my Xenia, normally waving in the current up front, was missing.  I swear I had just seen it.  Upon further inspection its rock had been pulled from the crevice I had it lodged in.  After some searching I found the rock, with just a tattered fragment of Xenia flesh still attached, in a cave under my green brittle star.   <interesting> I am assuming he (?) ate the Xenia.  Can I expect more of this behaviour?   <their attacks are somewhat random... but honestly they are an unsafe long term species for reef aquaria. Most any other brittle or serpent star is very safe though> A large mushroom which yesterday had nearly worked its way free to begin drifting about has also disappeared.  I cannot find it at all.  Thanks in advance, Scott Bartlett. <remit this star to a fish only tank perhaps... very fine scavenger as you have noticed. Seriously :) Anthony>

Starfish Worries Hey guys <Just guy tonight, PF here.> I am working on a cleanup crew for my 29 gal (soon-to-be) reef tank.  Currently, I have 1 large hermit, one small hermit, <You might want to get a bunch of empty shells for your hermits to move into, they're notorious for killing snails and stealing their shells, > 5 turbo snails, and I just got 2 green brittle star fish.  Other live stock are 1 convict damsel, one yellow damsel, and a clown fish along with about 25lbs of LR. <You do know that damsels are highly territorial, if you ever plan on putting any other fish in, I would get the damsels out now,> I am concerned that the stars might feel like feasting on my little fish or snails if I don't feed them properly. <Yes indeed, the infamous green brittle is known to eat fish (I saw photos of one that ate a small mantis, the mantis objected and reenacted the dinner scene from Alien).  I have been feeding flake food for my livestock; do I need to feed something else entirely that they can all share, add something else for the stars, or just use more flakes?  <For the stars, I would recommend something meatier, say frozen (thawed of course) krill, small (like 1'x ¼') strips of fish or squid, etc.  Be aware, these guys can get big, like 12'+ across big.> Thanks for the help! <Your welcome, sounds like a nice little tank so far.> Kenneth in Houston <PF in Eugene>

Green brittle star diet (O. incrassata) 11/18/03 Hi Gang, <howdy> Love your site.   <thanks kindly> I have read that green brittle stars can be fish eaters.   <indeed... they are opportunistic and uncommonly predatory for a brittle star> I was not aware they might eat corals too.   <not likely... more a predator on motile invertebrates like small shrimp... also will eat Tridacnid clams that fall and squirm to right themselves> This evening, while doing a water change I notice that my Xenia, normally waving in the current up front, was missing.  I swear I had just seen it.  Upon further inspection its rock had been pulled from the crevice I had it lodged in.  After some searching I found the rock, with just a tattered fragment of Xenia flesh still attached, in a cave under my green brittle star.   <interesting> I am assuming he (?) ate the Xenia.  Can I expect more of this behaviour?   <their attacks are somewhat random... but honestly they are an unsafe long term species for reef aquaria. Most any other brittle or serpent star is very safe though> A large mushroom which yesterday had nearly worked its way free to begin drifting about has also disappeared.  I cannot find it at all.  Thanks in advance, Scott Bartlett. <remit this star to a fish only tank perhaps... very fine scavenger as you have noticed. Seriously :) Anthony>