Is this reef safe? What is this?

Ahbaloch · Jun 13, 2018

Hey there just got my monti and there are 2-3 these star fish?

What do i do?

Pluck them out,
Leave them there?

Dip them kn coral rx?

Help is appreciated

MSB123 · Jun 13, 2018

Looks like brittle stars- IMO I would never have one in my reef- fish killers

samnaz · Jun 13, 2018

Brittle star. I leave them, they’re harmless IME. Never heard of them killing fish...

Ahbaloch · Jun 13, 2018

Here better pic

Reefing Madness · Jun 13, 2018

I'd leave em. Harmless critter. They will only go after dead or dying fish and other things.

ilyad · Jun 13, 2018

Also, this is the mini kind. From my experience they wont grow much bigger than a half dollar. No worries for the fish.

hdsoftail1065 · Jun 13, 2018

I would leave it, it's fine.

Ahbaloch · Jun 13, 2018

Thanks everyone,

I tossed them in my fuge for now

Maritimer · Jun 13, 2018

These little guys are a great member of your cleanup crew, reaching out an arm to strain food from the currents or prowling the rocks at night.

There is a big (huge!) green variety, sans bristles, which _does_ have a reputation for taking out fish. I've seen one pluck a drifting krill from the water column, and can well believe that they'd have the ability to take out smaller fish.

~Bruce

Coralfuture · Jun 13, 2018

I would say they are completely harmless IME and opinion. They have been nothing but a free clean up crew and they don't get very big either cool little guys. Leave them in fuge they will have plenty of food in there.

Toofattofish · Jun 13, 2018

I had about 2-5 of these a year ago and now have probably dozens if not hundreds. Every little nook has a tiny little bristled arm. Even more so at night. They are harmless.

Empress · Jun 15, 2018

Adorable. I love its design. And the more the merrier. [emoji228]

mta_morrow · Jun 15, 2018

Micro brittle stars. An excellent member of your CUC!

Plus, they are cool [emoji41]

Billdogg · Jun 15, 2018

Maritimer said:
These little guys are a great member of your cleanup crew, reaching out an arm to strain food from the currents or prowling the rocks at night.

There is a big (huge!) green variety, sans bristles, which _does_ have a reputation for taking out fish. I've seen one pluck a drifting krill from the water column, and can well believe that they'd have the ability to take out smaller fish.

~Bruce

Coralfuture said:
I would say they are completely harmless IME and opinion. They have been nothing but a free clean up crew and they don't get very big either cool little guys. Leave them in fuge they will have plenty of food in there.

Toofattofish said:
I had about 2-5 of these a year ago and now have probably dozens if not hundreds. Every little nook has a tiny little bristled arm. Even more so at night. They are harmless.

mta_morrow said:
Micro brittle stars. An excellent member of your CUC!

Plus, they are cool [emoji41]

^^^Exactly what all of theses folks have said^^^

IMHO, an absolutely vital part of your CUC. I routinely move them from one tank to another depending on how their population is in a given tank. If you have "too many", it is because they have too much available food.

samnaz · Jun 15, 2018

Check out this insane brittle star population in a pipefish tank...

Fishy_mcfish · Jun 16, 2018

samnaz said:
Check out this insane brittle star population in a pipefish tank...

I know where that tank is! I was amazed at how many brittle stars where in there!!

Captain Quint · Jun 16, 2018

Maritimer said:
These little guys are a great member of your cleanup crew, reaching out an arm to strain food from the currents or prowling the rocks at night.

There is a big (huge!) green variety, sans bristles, which _does_ have a reputation for taking out fish. I've seen one pluck a drifting krill from the water column, and can well believe that they'd have the ability to take out smaller fish.

~Bruce

Agreed. The Giant Greens Brittle Stars are stars of death. I've never had a problem with mini brittles.