Cleaner Shrimp VS Brittle Starfish

**BoB_27** · 04-24-2007, 11:37 AM

The other night I saw the smaller cleaner shrimp lying on his side. Thought he was sick not for sure? I don’t know if my bigger one kicked his butt or what happen for sure. Anyways out of no where I saw my brittle star grab him and take the shrimp in the rock with him. I haven’t seen him since. Do starfish eat shrimp? All I know is when my Harlequin finds him the pay-back will suck.

**Seahorsedreams** · 04-24-2007, 01:41 PM

Oh ya... a brittle would love that easy lunch. What kind of brittle are we talking about here? How big?

**Phurst** · 04-24-2007, 01:47 PM

Yeah, I'm looking to get rid of mine. A green brittle. he was so cute when he was small, but at 8+ inches from tip to tip, he's a terror. I've seen him try to pull hermits from their shells. I'm just waiting for him to grab a chromis or my royal gramma. I really do need to get him out of there and to someone with a tank that has only large fish.

**BoB_27** · 04-24-2007, 02:15 PM

I would say 8 or 9" plus. Really big guy. He's a black brittle star and the cleaner shrimp was really small. like 1/2-3/4". The bad thing was i never bought him. He came in my rock and he just ate 20 bucks in one shrimp.

**CarmieJo** · 04-24-2007, 02:34 PM

I'd try to get him out and take him to the LFS for trade or to a swap.

**BoB_27** · 04-24-2007, 02:46 PM

I have already done that to 4 other Black Brittle Stars, 1 Ruby Brittle Star, and 4 Bumble Bee Snails, received a grand total of 15 bucks for everything. All of these came in my live rock from my LFS.

I thought about trying to get him, but then recently got the Harlequin Shrimp. With that in mind do you still think I should get him?

**CarmieJo** · 04-24-2007, 04:14 PM

I think that the brittle star could get your harlequin if he wanted to. They can catch pretty big fish.

**BoB_27** · 04-24-2007, 04:25 PM

Alright next time he is out he's mine!!!!

**Seahorsedreams** · 04-24-2007, 08:35 PM

I bet your LFS would take him in.

**saxman** · 04-24-2007, 08:38 PM

the real key to keeping brittles on their good behavior is FEEDING them. i had a 16" green in my reef for a few years (lost it in a crash), and it came out to be fed daily. the star never bothered anything.

that being said, if left to their own devices, brittles can be trouble.

**clownfish4me** · 10-03-2007, 06:20 AM

very funny! i enjoyed reading this thread. im with cammie, trade him.
[QUOTE][Alright next time he is out he's mine!!!!/QUOTE] lol too funny... did u get him!