Mini Brittle Stars for CUC

TDDredge · Mar 17, 2021

So I'm toying with the idea of mini brittle stars as cleanup crew. I hear great things about them, and from a pest dip I recently did, I know for fact that my lfs has some of them, hitchhikers or no. I just wanted to know, they usually get to about 2" maximum? Will a royal gramma decimate them before they can do anything? Pistol or cleaner shrimp? I know the hermits might take a couple. Any real negatives? I hear they can take over a tank but that seems very rare.

yuzu · Mar 17, 2021

I originally had 2 hitch hikers and now there are maybe 30+? since last year. They don't take over in my experience and don't get very big. Mine are a red variety, I've heard that green ones aren't reef safe. I don't have hermits or a royal gramma so can't comment on that. My clownfish and chromis ignore them.

AlgaeBarn · Mar 23, 2021

Micro Brittle stars are a great as a clean up and you are right that a take over of them is pretty rare and shouldn't be a concern

JuiceByCliff · Apr 28, 2021

AlgaeBarn said:
Micro Brittle stars are a great as a clean up and you are right that a take over of them is pretty rare and shouldn't be a concern

When are you guys going to start aqua culture and selling??? Make it rain!!!!!!!!!!! Also waiting on your urchins to be back in stock!

AlgaeBarn · Apr 28, 2021

JuiceByCliff said:
When are you guys going to start aqua culture and selling??? Make it rain!!!!!!!!!!! Also waiting on your urchins to be back in stock!

It is in the works

As far as the urchins we are waiting for the breeder to have more available. Should be soon though!

Trouble1375 · Apr 28, 2021

TDDredge said:
So I'm toying with the idea of mini brittle stars as cleanup crew. I hear great things about them, and from a pest dip I recently did, I know for fact that my lfs has some of them, hitchhikers or no. I just wanted to know, they usually get to about 2" maximum? Will a royal gramma decimate them before they can do anything? Pistol or cleaner shrimp? I know the hermits might take a couple. Any real negatives? I hear they can take over a tank but that seems very rare.

Our Melanurus Wrasses like to pull them out of the rock and run around with them hanging out of their mouths and then drop them. Not sure if they ever eat them but they definitely mess with them.