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| TCMAS Twin Cities Marine Aquarium Society Club Forum |
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11-16-2005, 06:26 PM
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#1
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Whuch' you need?
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: West Saint Paul
Posts: 3,810
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Brittle star
I have been considering getting a brittle star. I was wondering of peoples experiance with them. I want to make sure they doe not pose a threat to my fish or inverts like serpent stars. From what I have read they are more filter feeders.
Opinions?
Derek
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Don't choke there buddy-boy!
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11-16-2005, 06:37 PM
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#2
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Shark
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 1,737
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I'm not sure there is any clear cut distinction between brittle stars and serpent stars. They are all closely related, but there are lots of species with a range of different behaviors and feeding styles. Some are indeed essentially filter feeders, while others are much more predaceous, and there is everything inbetwen.
The green brittlestars are ones to be careful with. There might be others in the aquarium trade that have big fish eating potential as well...I don't know. But the green ones are notorious for eating things (including fish sometimes) that you wish they had not eaten. You might be able to keep one for many years without problems, but I have seen enough firsthand, and heard enough stories, to make me leery of putting one in with fish that I care a whole lot about that are small enough to be eaten.
My guess would be that most of the other brittle/serpent stars would be pretty safe. |
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11-16-2005, 06:58 PM
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#3
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Whuch' you need?
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: West Saint Paul
Posts: 3,810
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I was thinkin the "fuzzy" looking ones.
__________________
Don't choke there buddy-boy!
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11-16-2005, 07:18 PM
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#4
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Anti-Acan Activist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: St. Paul, MN
Posts: 2,578
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I recommend the fancy brittle stars... they are awesome... Look at my avatar for a pic of mine that died in a majpr tank crash,,, it lived through many before and never caused ANY problems in the tank.
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Come to our .org if you want to live....
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11-16-2005, 07:28 PM
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#5
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TCMAS Member
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Brooklyn Center, MN
Posts: 5,666
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The black ones ( with the red/orange hairs ) are good ones......
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11-16-2005, 07:32 PM
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#6
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Shark
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 1,737
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OT - sorry
David and Trodder,
Did you get my e-mails (to David today, to Trodder a week or more ago)?
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11-16-2005, 07:32 PM
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#7
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TCMAS Member
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: River Falls, WI
Posts: 3,017
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I have to keep my Green Brittle Star well fed with shrimp otherwise he takes a few "pot shots" at the fish. They are especially notorious for arching it's body in an overhang or cave and drop in on an unsuspecting fish or shrimp.
They have also been reported to ambush sleeping fish.
If you keep them fed you shouldn't have any problems. If you expect them to scavenge all their food, you're risking it.
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Barry
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11-16-2005, 07:38 PM
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#8
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TCMAS Member
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Brooklyn Center, MN
Posts: 5,666
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Bill - reply sent.....
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11-16-2005, 08:12 PM
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#9
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2nd Gen Member
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Fridley
Posts: 143
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by David Grigor
The black ones ( with the red/orange hairs ) are good ones......
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I agree I love mine 
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11-16-2005, 08:27 PM
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#10
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Anti-Acan Activist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: St. Paul, MN
Posts: 2,578
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Bill,
I did get your email  sorry I forgot to get back to you... just tell me a day that works for you and I'll run them out to you at the school 
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Come to our .org if you want to live....
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11-16-2005, 08:31 PM
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#11
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RIP Steve Irwin
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Whereva
Posts: 5,500
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I have 3 of the big green ones in the 500 and they love to eat chromis when they sleep. *******s!
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Never take life seriously...nobody gets out alive anyways.
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11-16-2005, 08:33 PM
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#12
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Whuch' you need?
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: West Saint Paul
Posts: 3,810
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better the chromis than your PBT or the kole!
__________________
Don't choke there buddy-boy!
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11-17-2005, 11:42 AM
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#13
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75, 75, 29, 20, 20, 10
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Rochester, Minnesota
Posts: 1,063
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I have 6 or 7 in my 72 bow.... not sure on the kind. I think a couple are tiger striped and the I know the 2 big ones are completely black..... never any problems. Do you want one? If I can catch one by the meeting??
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R.K.A member, Ken voted me in.
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11-17-2005, 11:43 AM
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#14
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Whuch' you need?
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: West Saint Paul
Posts: 3,810
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Sure, that would be cool.
Thanks
derek
__________________
Don't choke there buddy-boy!
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11-17-2005, 12:28 PM
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#15
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Shark
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Waseca,MN
Posts: 1,443
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I have one in the Fuge.
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