Brittle star feeding

bobmakespancakes · Mar 19, 2020

i am considering getting a brittle starfish but i wanted to know what i should feed it currently i only have frozen brine shrimp for my other fish but i don't think that would be enough what would i feed it?

Montiman · Mar 19, 2020

Most Brittle Stars are detritivores and do not need direct feeding in a well stocked tank. Some are predatory and will require direct feeding of meaty foods such as krill, squid, and silver sides. The predatory species can also eat small fish and invertebrates in your display.

bobmakespancakes · Mar 19, 2020

Montiman said:
Most Brittle Stars are detritivores and do not need direct feeding in a well stocked tank. Some are predatory and will require direct feeding of meaty foods such as krill, squid, and silver sides. The predatory species can also eat small fish and invertebrates in your display.

should i worry about eating small clownfish or a firefish?

homer1475 · Mar 20, 2020

Are we talking Brittle star, or Serpent star?

2 totally different creatures. One is a detritivore, and the other will need to be fed.

bobmakespancakes · Mar 20, 2020

homer1475 said:
Are we talking Brittle star, or Serpent star?

2 totally different creatures. One is a detritivore, and the other will need to be fed.

whichever one doesn't need to be fed

Oberst Oswald · Mar 21, 2020

The Brittle Star is the detritivore... that is the one you want if you would like a non-killer. When you feed your fish and cleanup crew make sure some food drops near him. A sinking pellet or two when the star is small makes them pretty friendly. A small chunk of clam, shrimp or fish from the seafood section of the supermarket works well when they get bigger. I sometime use a tube to guide the food to my brittle star (4 years old)... he waits like a puppy.

A Serpent Star is a predator and will kill your fish, crabs and snails if not fed very well. They kind of look the same... Brittle is hairy and the Serpent is smooth skin. Do your research before buying.