Black Brittle Starfish
Ophiocoma spp.
Description:
The Jet Black Brittle Sea Stars are some of the hardest working cleaners available. Found throughout the Caribbean, they have a red central disc, with different patterns. The spiny red arms covered with a white pattern and spines. They are wonderful reef inhabitants that always seem to be looking for some bit of uneaten food in even the tiniest of crevices. It is nocturnal and often hides under rocks during the day. At night, it comes out to eat detritus, left-over food and small organisms.
Note:
This animal requires a long, slow drip acclimation period of no less than 2-1/2 hours in order to properly adjust to the parameters in your aquarium. It requires the aquarium to maintain a salinity of 1.025 ppm. Lower salinities will shorten the life of this animal and incorrect acclimation procedures will void the livestock guarantee.
Food and diet:
Feed Brittle Starfish a varied diet of frozen mysis and brine shrimp, mussel, clam, raw table shrimp, and smelts, silversides. Brittle Stars will eat any leftovers from other aquarium inhabitants. Best to feed once a day. As long as the central disc is meaty in appearance, the Brittle Star is feeding well. Just remember predatory hunting may occur if the brittle star is not fed enough.
Level of Care:
Easy
Acclimaton Time:
2-1/2 hours
Reef Compatibility
:Excellent
Approximate Purchase Size:
3 to 6 inches.
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Yellow/Green Brittle Star
Ophiarachna incrassata
Description:
The Yellow/Green Brittle Starfish is a very interesting and useful starfish. They have a mostly green body with yellow highlights. Having typically five long spiny arms coming out of its central disc. They are wonderful reef inhabitants that always seem to be looking for some bit of uneaten food in even the tiniest of crevices. It is nocturnal and often hides under rocks during the day. At night, it comes out to eat detritus, left-over food and small organisms.
Note:
This animal requires a long, slow drip acclimation period of no less than 2-1/2 hours in order to properly adjust to the parameters in your aquarium. It requires the aquarium to maintain a salinity of 1.025 ppm. Lower salinities will shorten the life of this animal and incorrect acclimation procedures will void the livestock guarantee.
Food and diet:
Feed Brittle Starfish a varied diet of frozen mysis and brine shrimp, mussel, clam, raw table shrimp, and smelts, silversides. Brittle Stars will eat any leftovers from other aquarium inhabitants. Best to feed once a day. As long as the central disc is meaty in appearance, the Brittle Star is feeding well. Just remember predatory hunting may occur if the brittle star is not fed enough.
Level of Care:
Easy
Acclimaton Time:
2-1/2 hours
Reef Compatibility
:Excellent
Approximate Purchase Size:
4 to 6 inches.
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Bubble Tip Brittle Star
OPHIOMASTIX ANNULOSA
Description:
If your looking for a very helpful invertebrate that also is very different to have, the Bubble Tip Brittle Star, also called the Teardrop Brittle Star is what you should have. Some call them bubble tips, while others call them teardrop's, but they appear on every leg, along the length, every small increment. Like all Brittle Stars they have a central disc and 5 arms. If an arm falls off it quickly regenerates. Most often you will see their legs hanging out from under the rocks hoping to grab some fish food floating nearby. They are great tank cleaners because they will eat any uneaten fish food that would normally get stuck & decay under our rocks. Can sometimes be seen roaming the tank at night after the lights are off.
Note:
This animal requires a long, slow drip acclimation period of no less than 2-1/2 hours in order to properly adjust to the parameters in your aquarium. It requires the aquarium to maintain a salinity of 1.025 ppm. Lower salinities will shorten the life of this animal and incorrect acclimation procedures will void the livestock guarantee.
Food and diet:
Feed Brittle Starfish a varied diet of frozen mysis and brine shrimp, mussel, clam, raw table shrimp, and smelts, silversides. Brittle Stars will eat any leftovers from other aquarium inhabitants. Best to feed once a day. As long as the central disc is meaty in appearance, the Brittle Star is feeding well. Just remember predatory hunting may occur if the brittle star is not fed enough.
Level of Care:
Easy
Acclimaton Time:
2-1/2 hours
Reef Compatibility
:Excellent
Approximate Purchase Size:
4 to 6 inches.
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Double Sea Star
Iconaster Longimanus
Description:
Overall, the Double Sea Star is both unique and makes an excellent star to keep in the home aquarium. It is active and will no doubt be a fan favorite. The Double Sea Star, also known as the Double Starfish, Double Tile Starfish, and the Icon Sea Star originates around the Indo-pacific coral reefs. Ranging in color from bright yellow/orange to tan with some distinctive shapes and patterns. The central pentagon resembles a second starfish giving the Double Tile Starfish its name. Therefore the name fits it well. Even thought rarely seen in the trade, they are reef safe and good scavengers of detritus, microalgae, small benthic invertebrates and other organic matter.
Notes:
Since this sea star comes from areas receiving little light, it should be maintained in aquariums containing sufficient hiding places, i.e., with lots of live rock and live sand. And since its central disc can attain a diameter of about 4 inches, would consider a 100 gallon aquarium the smallest it should be kept in. Like all Sea Stars The Double Sea Star is quite intolerant to changes in water quality so tanks should be kept stable and established.
This animal requires a long, slow drip acclimation period of no less than 2-1/2 hours in order to properly adjust to the parameters in your aquarium. It requires the aquarium to maintain a salinity of 1.025 ppm. Lower salinities will shorten the life of this animal and incorrect acclimation procedures will void the livestock guarantee.
Food and diet:
The Double Sea Star is a carnivore and feeds on almost any food including molluscs, worms, detritus.
Level of Care:
Moderate
Acclimaton Time:
2-1/2 hours
Reef Compatibility
: Excellent
Approximate Purchase Size:
2 - 3-1/2 inches.
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Red Serpent Star
Ophioderma squamoisissinum
Description:
Red Serpent Starfish, Ophioderma squamosissimum, is one of the most stunning serpent starfish found in the Caribbean, and is also the largest. Full-grown starfish can have a central disk diameter of almost an inch and a half, and legs as long as about 8. We usually leave the big ones on the reef and just collect the smaller ones, but be aware that they can get really big and live a long time.
Note:
This animal requires a long, slow drip acclimation period of no less than 2-1/2 hours in order to properly adjust to the parameters in your aquarium. It requires the aquarium to maintain a salinity of 1.025 ppm. Lower salinities will shorten the life of this animal and incorrect acclimation procedures will void the livestock guarantee. These starfish seem to be a little more sensitive to water quality conditions than the common serpents of the harlequin serpents, so I would not recommend adding them to a brand new tank or one that is being cycled.
Food and diet:
Feed a varied diet of frozen mysis and brine shrimp, mussel, clam, raw table shrimp, and smelts, silversides. Brittle Stars will eat any leftovers from other aquarium inhabitants. Best to feed once a day. As long as the central disc is meaty in appearance, the Brittle Star is feeding well. Just remember predatory hunting may occur if the brittle star is not fed enough.
Level of Care:
Moderate
Acclimaton Time:
2-1/2 hours
Reef Compatibility
:Excellent
Approximate Purchase Size:
6 inches.
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