[shan_xoxox]

When I first got my starfish I would hand feed it freeze dried shimp once in a while and it always seemed eager. I did some research and discovered it will eat just about anything, so I stopped and let if fend for itself. I now only have inverts in my tank due to an ich disaster (cleaner shrimp, banded shrimp, pencil urchin, many hermits). The others in the tank do plenty of clean up. I feed brine shrimp to them every other day. I am curious if I should start feeding it intentionally again or just let it find it's own food.

[ilovemash]

If its a green brittle star be careful, they are notorious for feeding on the fish in your tank. In my area people call them green death. That said it may lower ur chances of it feeding on ur fish if u feed it urself.

[jax]

I have 3 of the supposed "green death" and they are great scavengers. I have never seen them try to attack any fish and on of them is nearly 18 inches long. If it wanted to it could eat anything it wanted in my tank. I'm sure that people have seen these feasting on fish but I'll bet they weren't the ones that took the fish down.
On the feeding question, the green brittle star is very hardy and should be able to fend for itself. But it is to feed by hand, it freaks visitors out once they get big.

[Ganrin]

Originally Posted by jax

I have 3 of the supposed "green death" and they are great scavengers. I have never seen them try to attack any fish and on of them is nearly 18 inches long. If it wanted to it could eat anything it wanted in my tank. I'm sure that people have seen these feasting on fish but I'll bet they weren't the ones that took the fish down.
On the feeding question, the green brittle star is very hardy and should be able to fend for itself. But it is to feed by hand, it freaks visitors out once they get big.

I have seen one catch a live, healthy fish in my first reef tank before. They can actively hunt fish.

[ilovemash]

Originally Posted by Ganrin

I have seen one catch a live, healthy fish in my first reef tank before. They can actively hunt fish.

As have I.....

[CyberJester]

I will chime in on this one as I have a large green brittle star. Don't think it has ever eaten any of my fish, but shrimp, that is a different story.

Since I got him, I can no longer keep any kind of shrimp in my tank. I have never actally seen him eating them, however, he is the only thing in the tank capable of eating them.

[shan_xoxox]

Well thanks for the posts. I will have to make sure it's well fed then because it's in with 2 shrimp! I was just worried it wasn't getting enough to scavenge because there are no fish currently in that tank, only inverts.