Brittle Star Infestation?

NeverlosT · Dec 13, 2015

a few months ago, I noticed that my small brittle star (~1 inch arms) population was increasing drastically (perhaps a new species came in on a coral or something).

When I feed the tank, little arms reach out from every single crack. The LPS actually have a hard time getting food since my big ball of candycane coral looks like a pincushion with arms reaching out from between every polyp.

Twice now at night I have observed the tank under a red light and what I see is like something out of a horror movie. The rock MOVES with thousands and thousands of starfish. They seem to stay off of living sps tissue, but cover every surface.

The tank is a 150 cube and if you told me that there were 5000 starfish in there, I would believe you without hesitation.

What do we think, harmless detritivore overload, or hey those might be a problem?

frogman_reefer · Dec 13, 2015

They are great scavengers and are awesome for the clean up crew. But that many? Unsure.

I have a lot in my sump and 4 large starfish, but nothing like what you're experiencing.

What fish do you have in your system! There are some invertebrates that might go after then and reduce the population.

You could look into those.

saltyfilmfolks · Dec 13, 2015

Pics would be great. What are you feeding to get those?
Any overpopulation can be a problem. If you could strap them you could easily give them away, and lots of fish do eat them.
Id have to say that thier population explosion means you could use to add a higher Animal to take their place in your eco system

frogman_reefer · Dec 13, 2015

Look up a Bongo Shrimp.
Check out this video.

IronVulture · Dec 13, 2015

I would like to buy a handful of them from you if you would be willing to ship send me a pm

NeverlosT · Dec 13, 2015

great comments all.

I will:
A. Try to get a picture of them. So that you can see the scale of their sheer numbers.
B. Try to catch some in a detritus trap of sorts. I'd be happy to give them away if people could use them.
C. If I can't catch them, I will try to insert another creature above them in the food chain.

I have a bunch of wrasses, and I think that is why the stars hide inside rock and crevices until the wrasses go under the sand, then they come out to party.

I do have one large brittle star. I consider him their king. lol

frogman_reefer · Dec 13, 2015

NeverlosT said:
great comments all.

I will:
A. Try to get a picture of them. So that you can see the scale of their sheer numbers.
B. Try to catch some in a detritus trap of sorts. I'd be happy to give them away if people could use them.
C. If I can't catch them, I will try to insert another creature above them in the food chain.

I have a bunch of wrasses, and I think that is why the stars hide inside rock and crevices until the wrasses go under the sand, then they come out to party.

I do have one large brittle star. I consider him their king. lol

Take a soda bottle 20 oz will do. Cut a few 1 inch long slits in it about 1/4 inches wide. Just before the lights go out take some krill, mysis and put it in the bottle. Place a small rock or rubble inside the bottle and fill it up with water before placing the lid back on

In the morning, you should have loads of them still hiding in the bottle.

Lionfish Lair · Dec 13, 2015

I'm standing in the "wanna buy" line.

saltyfilmfolks · Dec 13, 2015

Me too.

levi213 · Dec 13, 2015

Ill take some if you can ship

NeverlosT · Dec 13, 2015

I'll give that a try frogman.

For the folks interested in some, I'll see how many I can catch and if there are enough I'll entertain shipping them around (or I have a buddy that sells corals, maybe he can help me send them).

Suggestions for a higher organism to eat some of what they seem to be flourishing on? I already have two conchs, nessarius and tiger trochus snails, hermits, a sea cucumber, and a large brittle star...

IronVulture · Dec 13, 2015

Looks like the bongo shrimp is your best bet I saw some on http://www.bluezooaquatics.com/productlist.asp?cid=84&did=2

They look cool, you could probably sell enough of the stars to cover the cost of getting one pretty quick also

bevo5 · Dec 13, 2015

I really want to see a pic. I have tons of these things but I don't know if I'd call it an infestation. I'm curious what that looks like.

Sabellafella · Dec 13, 2015

The brood depends on ur bioload useable space, feeding ect,, theyll stop reproducing so they dont starve. so i have a 30 gallon cube, counted about 50 so times that by 5 ,in ur tank theres prob well over 500, why get rid of them? Make ur sump a zoo

saltyfilmfolks · Dec 14, 2015

Sabellafella said:
The brood depends on ur bioload useable space, feeding ect,, theyll stop reproducing so they dont starve. so i have a 30 gallon cube, counted about 50 so times that by 5 ,in ur tank theres prob well over 500, why get rid of them? Make ur sump a zoo

Trade for frags locally.

frogman_reefer · Dec 21, 2015

@NeverlosT. Any luck? What's the update?

Saltwater Dreamin · Dec 21, 2015

Depending on what you have in your tank it might be a great excuse to get some harlequin shrimp!

frogman_reefer · Dec 21, 2015

Saltwater Dreamin said:
Depending on what you have in your tank it might be a great excuse to get some harlequin shrimp!

Except they don't eat Brittle Stars. That's the job for the Bongo Shrimp

Baby Ray · Dec 21, 2015

I would love to buy some from you

NeverlosT · Jan 4, 2016

Sorry all, have been super busy over the holidays, I'll see what I can do to trap some, in addition I am going to take Sabella's advice and decrease my feeding as their population is probably a dead giveaway that I feed too much.

I catch 10-20 a week in filter socks, maybe i'll start collecting those. I wonder how hardy they are with shipping.