Needle-Spined Brittle Stars
From Microcosm Aquarium Explorer
These long-spined stars are difficult to keep alive in the home aquarium. Scott W. Michael
[edit] Overview
These brittle stars have moderately sized central discs and long arms that bear lateral rows of long, needle-like spines. Tend to be solid black, violet or gray; some have armbands of contrasting colors.
In the wild, they are found living on the surfaces of large sponges; may be getting food from the surface of the sponge or may be filtering in their own right or grazing on the sponge.
Family: Ophiothricidae
Other common name(s):
Native range:
Maximum length: 30 cm (12 in)
Minimum aquarium size: 190 L (50 gal)
Lighting: Immaterial.
Water: Marine 24 °C (297 K, 75 °F) - 28 °C (301 K, 82 °F)
[edit] Feeding
Symbiotic or commensal with large sponges or other large suspension feeders. Natural diets are unknown. They generally live a few weeks to a few months and then start to die from the arm tips in toward the disc, a pattern typical of malnutrition.
[edit] Aquarium Compatibility
Poor survival rate in captivity, presumably due to inappropriate substrate and food.
[edit] Notes
These brittle stars do not seem to require a hiding space and often seem to remain exposed for long periods, probably the result of having totally inappropriate habitats in captivity.
| Common name | Needle-Spined Brittle Stars + |
| Family | Ophiothricidae + |
| Genus | Ophiothrix + |
| Image credit | SWM + |
| Lighting | Immaterial. + |
| Maximum length | 12 in + |
| Minimum aquarium size | 50 gal + |
| Native range | Tropical Seas + |
| Reference | A PocketExpert Guide to Marine Invertebrates + |
| Specific name | spp. + |
| Text credit | RLS + |
| Water max temp | 301 K (28 °C, 82 °F) + |
| Water min temp | 297 K (24 °C, 75 °F) + |
| Water type | Marine + |