large black brittle star

[guppychao]

noticed a large black brittle star one night, I only see the legs which are about 6 inches long. Are they okay for a reef tank? I hear they are detrius eaters

[Larry Grenier]

Not an expert here but do a search on Ophiuroids - Serpent. Hopefully this is what you have, I've read these are OK.

[steveoutlaw]

The black brittles aren't bad. I hear that the green brittles can be a bit aggressive.

[Hokie41275]

The Brittle stars can eat small fish and seahorses. As fish sleep in rocks at night, they are at risk of being caught and eaten. Otherwise they are great at eating detritus and cleaning the tank.

[edkruzel]

All brittles can and eat smaller fish or crustaceans (ornamental shrimp). As they are mostly a nocturnal creature sleeping fish in a crevice are at the highest risk, but as you may have seen pictures of, they will elevate their bodies giving smaller fish a small ledge to hide under. As the fish seek the shelter of this new ledge, the starfish will twist its body and legs around, trapping the fish and then eating its prey.