How to control mini brittle stars population ?

[Casey8]

hehe ... I never see any left over food though, they must eat fish poop then ... Alright, I have no control when my fish are giving me a "starving puppy" eyes, they know how to use their "magic" ... Please tell me what type of other creature or fish eat them, PLEASE !

[Wayne]

If you don't want to flush them... You could syphon them out into a bucket while doing water changes and just give them away for free.

[FitoPharmer]

A few weeks ago J&L had mini harlequin shrimp. Their description said they loved to eat mini brittle stars.

[chandigz]

Originally Posted by FitoPharmer

A few weeks ago J&L had mini harlequin shrimp. Their description said they loved to eat mini brittle stars.

Bongo shrimp!! I have a pair. 3/4" and 1/2". They love mini brittle stars. They aren't cheap unless you run the marine section at a LFS and even then they really aren't that cheap. LOL

You could put your starfish in the sump and get a harlequin shrimp. I know mine is eating my mini brittlestars faster then the asterina stars that I want him to eat.

[Casey8]

Originally Posted by chandigz

Bongo shrimp!! I have a pair. 3/4" and 1/2". They love mini brittle stars. They aren't cheap unless you run the marine section at a LFS and even then they really aren't that cheap. LOL

You could put your starfish in the sump and get a harlequin shrimp. I know mine is eating my mini brittlestars faster then the asterina stars that I want him to eat.

That's a GREAT idea ! I can't put the harlequin in the DT but I can put it in my refugium to let it gobble up the brittle stars in there whenever I get them from the powerheads ... Hope that might cut 1/3 of the populations in a month. But how about my DT, any idea ?

[Casey8]

Originally Posted by chandigz

Bongo shrimp!! I have a pair. 3/4" and 1/2". They love mini brittle stars. They aren't cheap unless you run the marine section at a LFS and even then they really aren't that cheap. LOL

You could put your starfish in the sump and get a harlequin shrimp. I know mine is eating my mini brittlestars faster then the asterina stars that I want him to eat.

Bongo shrimp $70 at J&L This hobby is getting more expensive and RIDICULOUS Harlequin is cheaper but only eats starfish, not brittle or serpent star, that was quoted by a person work at J&L.

[subman]

um cut feeding in half....its less than free and everyone will be healthier....plus waaaayyy less brittle stars. just saying

[Casey8]

Alright subman, starting tonight I will cut 1/3 of their portion. Life is not fair when you have no money and have an expensive hobby

[Casey8]

Wayne, I had tried that method but their whole body is deep inside the rocks, only the tiny ugly feet sticking out. I even tried using a tweezer to pull them out but I just broke their legs apart. They are worse than brittle worms I think catching the worms is more easy.

[whatcaneyedo]

I've got a good size wrasse that eats them: Halichoeres ornatissimus. A friend of mine also used to have what I think was a Lunar wrasse (Thalassoma lunare) that would gobble them up very aggressively. If you have a large covered tank one of those might work for you.