What kind of brittle star is this?

[mihkey]

We just got this big guy from our local pet store and I just want to be sure what kind he is, so I don’t have to worry about my clownfish. I’m really hoping he’s not a green brittle, but the pet store said he was a fancy brittle starfish.
Thank you
Ashley

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

there are no kinds, its just a brittlestar. Same as a serpent star, it will eat small fishes like clown gobies, neon gobies, masked gobies, etc.... It hunts and eats them while they sleep.

Clownfish or regular size fish are safe, don't worry.

 

[Mark Goode]

there are no kinds, its just a brittlestar. Same as a serpent star, it will eat small fishes like clown gobies, neon gobies, masked gobies, etc.... It hunts and eats them while they sleep.

Clownfish or regular size fish are safe, don't worry.

You mean only one species? Nah, surely not.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

You mean only one species? Nah, surely not.

you are right, I spoke to soon.
"The Ophiuroidea contain two large clades, Ophiurida (brittle stars) and Euryalida (basket stars). Over 2,000 species of brittle stars live today.[1] More than 1,200 of these species are found in deep waters, greater than 200 m deep.[1]"

 

[Mr_Knightley]

It looks green, and it looks big, so I'll say it's a giant green unfortunately... They'll be fine for a while until they find where your fish sleeps. From what I gather, all other brittle and serpent stars are 100% fish safe unless the fish is already on death's door and has started to stink.

The giant green brittle is the only large species of brittle found in the hobby, and it's also the only green one, so it should be pretty easy to identify. I can't really see the color in these photos though.

 

[mihkey]

It looks green, and it looks big, so I'll say it's a giant green unfortunately... They'll be fine for a while until they find where your fish sleeps. From what I gather, all other brittle and serpent stars are 100% fish safe unless the fish is already on death's door and has started to stink.

The giant green brittle is the only large species of brittle found in the hobby, and it's also the only green one, so it should be pretty easy to identify. I can't really see the color in these photos though.

 

[Mr_Knightley]

Yeah that's a green brittle, I would banish it to the sump if I were you... Not worth the risk. It's such a cool animal though.