Just wanted to share... Shrinking Shrimp, predatory Brittlestar?
This weekend I purchased four small peppermint shrimp hoping they would clean up some pesky Aiptasia in my tank.  I read all that I could find to try to make sure they would be safe, but alas, they became the most expensive food I've ever put in my tank!  I believe the green brittle star is the culprit.  All of the shrimp were gone within a few hours.  They were fairly small shrimp, but all of my fish are smaller than 3 inches long, so I'm pretty sure the brittle star got them.  My husband keeps trying to convince me that maybe the shrimp are hiding, but my tank is only 55 gallons and I would expect to see at least one of them around feeding time.  Anyway,
I just thought that I would share with other hobbyists that small shrimp are not necessarily safe with a medium to large size brittle star, regardless of what the LFS tells you!  Keep up the good work WWM crew!
<Thanks for the encouragement! It is always possible that the shrimp are hiding. I put a very expensive fire shrimp in my tank on Saturday...haven't seen him since. Shrimp are experts at hiding. Keep watching around feeding time. Best of luck! David>

Reaching For The Stars (Starfish)
We had a green brittle star that died.  We thought perhaps it was that our floating salt thermometer was not working correctly, it showed a normal range but when we bought a gravity tester it showed 1.029.  So we added to the tank more water and now we are at 1.023.  All other tests look good, temp. at 78.  Bought a new brittle star, only in tank 1 night and looks distressed.  Legs curled up around body, they have not fallen off?  Any ideas on what may be occurring.  We are new to this.
Thanks for any help. Sherry and Larry
<Well, guys- Sea Stars in general, tend to contract fungal and bacterial diseases, often as a result of improper handling somewhere in the chain of custody from the reef to the hobbyist. In my opinion, it would be best to quarantine starfish just like you would fishes, prior to their introduction to the aquarium. You could use over-the-counter (aquarium store counter, that is!) antibiotic medications to treat these infections. Also, provide very stable, high-quality water conditions for these animals, and they can thrive. An often-overlooked aspect of starfish husbandry is selection. A healthy starfish should be rigid, and reactive to stimuli. And, of course, they really should have all of their arms! Look for any body damage, too. Another great test for a healthy star is to flip it upside down gently. A healthy animal will try to turn itself upright quickly. Do a complete review of your tank's water parameters, and pay careful attention to your husbandry techniques (water changes, protein skimming, etc. and you should be successful in the future with these animals! Maybe you should order a copy of "Reef Invertebrates" by Anthony, Bob, and Steven Pro...should provide lots of good information!. Take care- Regards, Scott F>

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>

Wounded green brittle starfish 7/18/03
I have a green brittle starfish that has opened on the top and it looks like a bunch of yellow seeds .It is still alive and doing well. what happened?
<the creature has a wound caused by injury or septic infection. You may need to QT it... but do maintain superb water quality in the meantime and feed as best as you can to help it recover. Best regards, Anthony>

-Brittle star infection-
Hi All!! I am wondering about the different types of diseases for green brittle starfish.  I have one that is having some major problems right now and don't know what is going on or how to treat it.  Two days ago, I noticed some brown fungus looking "stuff" on the body of the star.  I paid no attention as I figured it was algae that happened to settle onto it.  The next day however, there was a chunk of skin missing from the star. <Ooo, sounds like it's getting an infection> I could see the orangish red coloring of its insides and to top it off, today was worse.  It has since lost one arm which is wriggling about the aquarium and I can see down to the bone of the star. It still has the brownish colored stuff on it, but the chunk seems to be getting bigger.  I don't know if some tankmate has been beating on it or if it is some sort of disease.  Any type of help would be greatly appreciated.  Star is quarantined, but I don't know how to help it. <That's great that it's quarantined, but unfortunately, it's very rare that they survive infections such as you're experiencing. Attempting antibiotics would be risky at best, so the best you can do is keep the water quality in tip-top shape by removing any dead/half-dead parts of the star should they begin to fall off. -Kevin> Thanks again,
Todd

-Seahorse compatibility-
Lol...I just got done writing you about my blue/green Chromis in with my erectus seahorses!  But, alas, I need your help once more... <That's what we're here for, fire away!> I went to a marine store near where I live in Ohio today (was supposed to buy some small crabs and such for both my 30 gallon tank of seahorses and for my 5 gallon of dwarf seahorses).  Well, when I was in there I picked up a nudibranch ...Phyllidia arabica I realized tonight from reading on here.  I am wondering now if I should not have bought this little bugger! <Well, do you know what it eats? Unfortunately, these things are incredibly hard to identify, and if you didn't collect it yourself, you have no way of knowing what it ate in the wild (they are usually specific feeders). Nudi's similar or the same as this one have been know to release toxins when damaged. All that said, it probably was not a smart buy.> I talked to the owner of the store and he told me it would do just fine in my tank with the seahorses.  I also went in looking for a chocolate chip starfish, which I thought would make a wonderful addition, well....sigh...I let not only the owner, but my friend as well, talk me out of the chocolate chip and in to purchasing a green brittle star instead. <Hehe, come armed w/ info!> Again, the owner of the store said that it would do well in with the seahorses and I had nothing to worry about. <Green brittle stars are notorious for chowing on unsuspecting fish at night, I doubt that your seahorse would be immune from this.> I am now shaking my head and embarrassed to say that after reading up on both of my new purchases that it seems neither is right for my tank! <Hehe, unfortunately it happens to everybody. Try to learn from these mistakes and come into the store knowing what you want and how to keep it. If something is really cool and you're not sure about it, put it on hold and research it.> Am I just over reacting?  I LOVE my seahorses and do not want to introduce them into harms way because of my lack of knowledge on these two specific species.  Will my guys be okay with these two new additions, or should I remove them pronto?  Any help on this quandary I have made for myself at the risk of my seahorses (wondering if I should start kicking myself now) would be gratefully appreciated! <If your LFS guy is cool, he may let you return what you've just bought. If you LOVE :) your seahorses, you'll want to remove them. Good luck! -Kevin> Thank you again,  Jena

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>

Shrimp/Serpent Star Deaths
Help me, Bob!
Three days ago, I purchased from my trusted LFS three cleaner shrimp (all large, two carrying eggs) and one beautiful red serpent star. All were carefully acclimated. Water parameters perfect. Have other thriving serpent stars. The following morning, I found the newly-added red serpent laying still. I allowed several hours to pass before reaching in to try to see if I could coax movement, to no avail. I put him on a rock so I could gauge his movement. Waited a few more hours to see what happened, and he just hung there - definitely deceased. I removed the poor soul.
Later that day, I noticed that my three new cleaner shrimp were missing. It has now been several days and not a trace. The only fish in the tank that may have done them some harm would be my flame hawk, but I didn't actually see him do anything.
Is this a case of I did something wrong, or bad stock from the LFS? I should add that I also bought a small arrow crab at the same time, but he is doing just fine. What do you think the culprit is?
Thanks for your advice, as always. Marilyn
>>
Yikes, though I love a mystery, I do not like to see anomalous animal losses or hobbyist-friends suffering. Unfortunately, I'd almost bet anything that the culprits) are your existing (green) serpent stars. This, in the middle of the night missing livestock, script is their MO for sure. Yes, the hawk might eat one small shrimp, and the Arrow Crab can/will grow to bothering/bothersome proportions... and, yes, maybe the LFS had some bad livestock... but all these losses? No, it's the stars. Either remove and trade them in, or reconcile yourself to only larger, aggressive or non-tasty tankmates.
Bob Fenner

Brittle star ambush
Mr. Fenner
I had an orchid Dottyback who was living inside an empty snail shell. This morning, I found my green brittle star next to the shell with the Dottyback in his mouth. I had heard that some brittle stars can be quite adept at catching sleeping fish, but had not experienced it first hand until now.
Should I worry about the brittle star catching other fish? What can I do to keep this from happening again?
Thank you.
>>
Yes. Remove it...  Bob Fenner

Sick Seastar
I have a green brittle star that i just recently purchased...his legs are starting to fall off...first they are turning pink and then the spines are falling off and then his leg falls off. he is still alive but i want to make sure there is nothing wrong with him...i do have a horseshoe crab but the star is in a hard to reach cave...is there a bacteria eating him or is this normal. please help i am very worried. Thanks
>>
Not normal, and not a good sign... I suspect your brittle star was/is infected and its health impaired from collection, shipping and handling... It will either self-heal or perish... if the latter, do try and remove the remains from your system.
Bob Fenner

Sick Serpent Star
Hi,
I read your responses to other peoples questions and they were very helpful.
<Ah, good>
I have a green Serpent Star named Pepe that is about 4 years old and he has recently become quite sick. I noticed that one of his legs has detached from the socket and then later that day, a piece broke off of another leg.
<Not good signs>
I recently had an algae problem and my water quality is not the best right now.
I have a 33 gallon hex tank with only have one other fish in the tank with some live rock. I thought if I slowly changed the water over a period of time to improve the water quality, it may help him. I vacuumed and changed only 4 gallons of water. The next day he broke off half of another leg and the next day another half. He is still trying to eat but he is having a hard time getting food. I also noticed that he has two large vertical openings underneath his disc on each side of one of his legs where I can see his insides. I can't tell if those are the only openings. Also, where he lost is full leg, now there is an opening to inside his disk.
<Time to make much more concerted attempts at improving water quality...>
I read all of your responses to related questions and was hopeful that he may recover but now I am not so sure. Should I continue to change a few gallons of water everyday to help improve his conditions or will that make matters worse? I also don't know what to do with the detached leg pieces. The are still moving and although I know they can't live forever, it seems weird to flush them when there are still alive.
<I would make a massive (like half) water change if you can be sure the new water is "okay"... better if it were pre-made up and stored ahead of use... but I wouldn't wait even if it had to be made now and used... And do gravel vacuum the bottom in removing the present water. Also, I would add some activated carbon to your filter... And clean out whatever filter gear you do have in the process. Do you have live rock?>
I'm sorry to send you such a lengthy e-mail and I appreciate any information
that you can give me to help save Pepe's life.
<The length of these messages is of little concern. Supplying enough information, expressing yourself is. Good luck my friend. Bob Fenner>
Thanks,
Gina

Re: Sick Serpent Star
Wow - I can't believe you responded so quickly. You are so sweet for sharing your knowledge with me.
<An honor m'lady>
I do have live rock in my tank. What percentage of water should I change at a time without hurting my other fish but still helping my Serpent Star?
<Perhaps 20-25 percent.>
You're the best.
Thanks,
Gina
<Again, good luck my friend. Be of good life. Bob Fenner>

Brittle stars
hello , i have a green brittle star, in my tank, and i am wanting to buy a small snowflake eel, do you think they will get along ok
<Yes, these two should. This species of Moray doesn't eat starfishes, and the Green Brittle Star should leave the Eel alone. Some info. on the Snowflake can be found on our site here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/snowflakemoray.htm
and the Star here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/brittlestars.htm
Be chatting. Bob Fenner>

Re: brittle stars
>thanks for the links, i just had a pet store to tell me i couldn't have an eel with my brittle star cause the eel would eat it
<Mmm, no... this species mainly eats crustaceans in the wild. Take a look under the species name, Echidna nebulosa, in the scientific literature, e.g. fishbase.org. Bob Fenner>