MiniBrittle stars eat/host sponge?

**scubadude** · 05-30-2001, 06:09 AM

The most interesting thing happened the other day when I was diving and noticed in the area that I was in had a whole bunch of orange finger sponges growing vertical mostly attached to rock upon closer examination of the sponges I noticed tons of Mini Brittle stars [img]/ubb/eek.gif[/img] OMG I must of went to about 30 of the same sponges and still tons of mini brittles on each one!...there where other types of sponges but they didnt have any ot the brittles on them! Well I found a piece of sponge that was broken off and I Put it in one of my tanks and YES it has tons of brittles on it... [img]/ubb/biggrin.gif[/img] Maybe these stars are just some sort of beneficial symbiotic relation to the sponge cuz all of the sponges with the brittles on them seemed VERY HEALTHY! just speculation all on my behalf but I would love to hear other opinions

Thanx Rocky

**scubadude** · 05-30-2001, 06:18 AM

Well it aint much but you can see (if you look close) the mini brittle stars on it [img]/ubb/tongue.gif[/img]

Dive_Master · 05-30-2001, 01:03 PM

Well, scubadude. I bought a leather coral that had few of the little brittle stars on it. I removed them of course. Did not want to introduce a potential parasite. It was iteresting. The leather coral is doing fine.

That's all I know.

Take Care. Keep on Diving.

Baywatch Babe · 05-31-2001, 11:38 AM

scubadude- Have you asked Dr. Ron for an ID? Those stars are about the same size that I found on my gorg. Here's the thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin...threadid=18741

and here's his findings:
Well, I have been spending some time with the critters you sent.

Beating my head against a brick wall is more like it. :-)

You sent two color varieties (which may or may not be species) in the jar
(and all arrived fine, about a week ago).

Both species have six arms - which makes them relatively uncommon in the
references. The spines on the arms are small, which limits the choices,
however, at this point my references fail me.

The most likely choice is two species, probably closely related, in the
family Ophiotrichidae. These would be suspension-feeding commensals living
on gorgonians.
However, the small adult size of these individuals makes them difficult to
find references about them. They may also be feeding on mucus or food
caught by the gorgs.

Sorry not be able to get a more definitive identification, but I will keep
looking and may yet find something on them.

Thanks for sending the critters.

Cheers, Ron

Gia

05-30-2001, 06:09 AM	#1
scubadude Moderator Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Wichita, Kansas Posts: 5,315	MiniBrittle stars eat/host sponge? The most interesting thing happened the other day when I was diving and noticed in the area that I was in had a whole bunch of orange finger sponges growing vertical mostly attached to rock upon closer examination of the sponges I noticed tons of Mini Brittle stars [img]/ubb/eek.gif[/img] OMG I must of went to about 30 of the same sponges and still tons of mini brittles on each one!...there where other types of sponges but they didnt have any ot the brittles on them! Well I found a piece of sponge that was broken off and I Put it in one of my tanks and YES it has tons of brittles on it... [img]/ubb/biggrin.gif[/img] Maybe these stars are just some sort of beneficial symbiotic relation to the sponge cuz all of the sponges with the brittles on them seemed VERY HEALTHY! just speculation all on my behalf but I would love to hear other opinions Thanx Rocky

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05-30-2001, 06:18 AM	#2
scubadude Moderator Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Wichita, Kansas Posts: 5,315	Well it aint much but you can see (if you look close) the mini brittle stars on it [img]/ubb/tongue.gif[/img]

05-30-2001, 01:03 PM	#3
Dive_Master Citizen Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 214	Well, scubadude. I bought a leather coral that had few of the little brittle stars on it. I removed them of course. Did not want to introduce a potential parasite. It was iteresting. The leather coral is doing fine. That's all I know. Take Care. Keep on Diving.

05-31-2001, 11:38 AM	#4
Baywatch Babe Governor Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Dubai, UAE Posts: 1,357	scubadude- Have you asked Dr. Ron for an ID? Those stars are about the same size that I found on my gorg. Here's the thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin...threadid=18741 and here's his findings: Well, I have been spending some time with the critters you sent. Beating my head against a brick wall is more like it. :-) You sent two color varieties (which may or may not be species) in the jar (and all arrived fine, about a week ago). Both species have six arms - which makes them relatively uncommon in the references. The spines on the arms are small, which limits the choices, however, at this point my references fail me. The most likely choice is two species, probably closely related, in the family Ophiotrichidae. These would be suspension-feeding commensals living on gorgonians. However, the small adult size of these individuals makes them difficult to find references about them. They may also be feeding on mucus or food caught by the gorgs. Sorry not be able to get a more definitive identification, but I will keep looking and may yet find something on them. Thanks for sending the critters. Cheers, Ron Gia

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