Brittle Star Fish

[PaBucsFan]

I wish I could have taken a picture but I was still in amazement at what I saw. While my girlfriend was doing her homework I was watching my saltwater tank and I noticed this spiny reddish-orange arm moving with a piece of krill attached. It was coming from a hole in the LR. It was almost like it was using the krill as bait until it retreated into the LR when I was shining light on it. I believe it is a Brittle Star Fish. How rare is it that Brittle Star Fish come with LR? My LFS sells them but the LR tub is on a separate water system/pump. Could it be anything else? I know with out a picture it is difficult to guess. If I see it again I will attempt a picture!

 

[nick87]

I wish I could have taken a picture but I was still in amazement at what I saw. While my girlfriend was doing her homework I was watching my saltwater tank and I noticed this spiny reddish-orange arm moving with a piece of krill attached. It was coming from a hole in the LR. It was almost like it was using the krill as bait until it retreated into the LR when I was shining light on it. I believe it is a Brittle Star Fish. How rare is it that Brittle Star Fish come with LR? My LFS sells them but the LR tub is on a separate water system/pump. Could it be anything else? I know with out a picture it is difficult to guess. If I see it again I will attempt a picture!

Brittle stars are very common on live rock, i must have hundreds of them, aswell as asterina stars.

 

[-Nemo-]

Can't rule out bristle worms.

 

[PaBucsFan]

Good point. I haven't seen it yet today. But I was definitely a reddish-orange with spikes/hairs on the arm/body that I saw. I am half tempted to mess with the LR a little to see if I can see it.

 

[PaBucsFan]

I still have yet to see the un-named creature in my tank. I have another question though. I have brown algae growing all around my tank. I assume it is due to the tank cycling. I do not have a phosphate test, my nitrates are less than 10, and I do leave my lights on for 12 hours a day. Now for my question, within the patched of brown algae are air bubbles that from time to time shoot up to the top of the water. What is causing the air bubbles? I assume it is a bacteria growing.

 

[seffieuk]

Yes, expect the brown algae is diatoms and the bubbles are nitrogen bubbles - a mature tank and cuc will take care of the diatoms and try to increase the flow over the place where you are getting bubbles

Seffie x