I know that they are good for tanks, but how do you control the population explosion?
Mini/Micro brittle stars...
- Thread starter ThaGlasMan1
- Start date
I have a lot too...I'm wondering if too many at this point
I used to think these things were so cool. I would ask for them if I noticed someone had them in a tank. Now I've got a zillion and they kinda drive me nuts. Every time I feed there are a near infinite number of little brittle star arms that poke out of everything. Literally everything. They've never done any damage that I can tell but I've got way to many.
@sharis100 - do harlequin shrimp really eat them? I've been curious and can't find a lot of info.
@sharis100 - do harlequin shrimp really eat them? I've been curious and can't find a lot of info.
Hmmm... ive always had tons of them, and i love them. When starting new tanks, i always try to seed the tank with them in the same way i do with copepods and amphipods.
I think its cool to catch them and see all the different colors; solid white, blue with spots, red with stripes, black and white,... just about any color pattern.
I think its cool to catch them and see all the different colors; solid white, blue with spots, red with stripes, black and white,... just about any color pattern.
The tank with our harlequin keeps the population in check in the display tank. They all hide or become snacks. Our other tanks in same system have an abundance of them. So, at least our harlequin is a working starfish hunter- always hunting and eats a full chocolate star monthly in addition to brittles and asterina stars.
I guess it's safe to say that the shrimp will eat my Caribbean sand sifting starfish as well then? Lol
I always thought that too but my harlequins will not touch my serpent starAny star️ is breakfast, lunch or dinner to a harlequin
Guess it depends on the harlequin and whether you are willing to risk it.
I have never had any in my tanks. One snuck in on a frag from our Christmas Party. I let him go in my Small system. I should probably get some to seed my in-wall tank
Harlequins will eat any star they can catch, flip over, and eat. They are interested in the tube feet.
Large slower moving stars (chocolate chips, sand sifters...) are flipped upside down, and eaten. Tiny stars (Asterina...) can be picked up and eaten while holding.
Serpent stars move too quickly and are too flexible for their size. They are a challenge for Harlequins to eat. But they would if they could!
Large slower moving stars (chocolate chips, sand sifters...) are flipped upside down, and eaten. Tiny stars (Asterina...) can be picked up and eaten while holding.
Serpent stars move too quickly and are too flexible for their size. They are a challenge for Harlequins to eat. But they would if they could!
I think the micro brittle stars are cool but don't have any in my tank.. Asternia stars I have seen a couple and they normally get dropped into a nem for a quick snack.
