White brittle starfish? Just a chat.

webbl19 · Sep 7, 2017

So no idea where i got these guys from. Ive only found them in my sump so far. Bunch of them all in my chaeto. Kinda creapy.
Anyway, they are white brittle stars. From what im reading they are a welcome hitchhicker, just wanted to see if anyone else has seen these? Ive seen little black ones, but never white ones. I got quite a few in there.

Im kinda scared to know whats all in my chaeto. I can see stuff moving. I tell myself they are just pods. I see bristle worms in there also though...
See that big ol pod up there at the top of the 2nd pic? Thats a good pod right? Hes a fat one.

nautical_nathaniel · Sep 7, 2017

That looks like the standard amphipod to me, perfectly harmless and a really good CUC member to have.

We have the white brittle stars here in Pensacola. I've thought about collecting a few for my CUC since I've heard they are really good at picking out scraps of food from crevices in the rocks. They're kinda hard to find in good numbers around here though.

webbl19 · Sep 7, 2017

pensacola-aquarist said:
That looks like the standard amphipod to me, perfectly harmless and a really good CUC member to have.

We have the white brittle stars here in Pensacola. I've thought about collecting a few for my CUC since I've heard they are really good at picking out scraps of food from crevices in the rocks. They're kinda hard to find in good numbers around here though.

Oh man. I got them everywhere in my sump. If i move anything odds are there are 1 or 2 under it. If not more. Bunch of tiny ones under this rubble and a big one.
Makes me wonder how many are in my DT.

Bret Brinkmann · Sep 9, 2017

Where did you get your chaeto?

webbl19 · Sep 10, 2017

Bret Brinkmann said:
Where did you get your chaeto?

From my LFS month and months ago.

saltyfilmfolks · Sep 10, 2017

You scored. Sooo many folks are trying to figure out how to add "diversity "

You just save a ton o cash. Lol

Bret Brinkmann · Sep 10, 2017

I think diversity comes easiest and cheapest from live rocks. I still get things coming out of mine every few months and it's been two years since I got them. The down side is that you also get things you don't want like crabs, mantis shrimp, blue asterina stars, and maybe diseases. The crabs ate my diversity.