green star & clownfish?

[adamlamb]

im going to get 2 percula clowns next week and i have a large green brittle star. I heard somewhere that these star fish will grab small fish and eat them will it be safe to put the clowns in with it?

[ajx22]

Depends...

The green stars have indeed been known to capture small fish as you heard...so it's a bit of a risk.

Unfortunately - there is no way to know how specific animals will act in our systems. What some species are known to do - does not always occur (ie. Some Peppermint Shrimp eat Aiptasia...the 6 in my tank don't).

If you plan on housing small fish in your system...it may be a good idea to relocate the star to a new home...

Good luck...

[rottn]

I'm with AJ. I've heard way too many stories about the "evil" green brittles. ;)

As a matter of fact... I was at BA's last weekend, and bought 3 brittles. I saw a huge green one in the tanks, so made a point of saying to the guy "please make sure you don't give me a green one".

He looked at me funny... but proceeded to get me my starfish. He got me a black one. Then a serpant (asked if that'd be ok, and i said yes). Then he caught a beautiful red one, and asked me (and I swear I detected sarcasm in his voice! LOL) "is red ok?".

I don't know if he thought I was a real flakey lady that just didn't like the colour green, or if he was aware of the predatory nature of green brittles. I probably shoulda said something. Oh well.

Sorry for going on with my little story...

I'd ditch the green. JMHO FWIW. :D

[Zerandise]

Well there is always the odd ball. I have a MASSIVE green who feeds like a lion (he came with the tank). from tip to tip be is 10" or more. However he has always left fish alone. I had him in with 3 damsels for a a couple months and they lived and play nice with each other. Now i know this isnt the rule as i hear lots on how they can take down fish. I see how too. He eats more like a lion fish than a starfish. but he is the one everyone watchs when i feed my tank. he crawls out and is all over the place. up the rocks, down the rocks, under the rocks.

Anyway i would not put one in my tank personaly. He is only in it as he was when i got it.