View Full Version : serpent star
rxdoc_85
03-10-2008, 5:09 PM
i have a medium sized serpent star. i really like him a lot, as he's active in the tank even during the day. i'd like to keep him, but i'm interesting in adding corals to the tank. would he be compatable with coral? i used to have a chocolate chip star, and i already took him back to the store because i know he wouldn't have been compatable, but i'm hoping that my serpent will be ok. anybody have any ideas?
From everything I have read, serpents are reef safe. So are brittle stars up to a certain size. My neighbor has a green brittle star in his 75G reef that is about 14" from tip to tip. It only eats dead things and food thrown in the tank.. 5 years and many small fish/gobies and the star has never touched one that was living.. the second a fish dies is another story.
Catpicklesdog
03-10-2008, 5:14 PM
What colour is it?
What colour is it?
Obviously there is a reason your asking.. so, which "colors" are not reef safe? :)
Catpicklesdog
03-10-2008, 5:31 PM
Personal experience - I had a green brittle star in a 60gal reef tank with absolutely no problems whatsoever. I only took it back to the shop because it grew way too large for the tank.
What many books and other peoples experiences say -
Green Brittle Star ("The Green Death")
Min Aquarium size - 100 gals
Reef Aquarium Suitability: One of the most voracious invertebrates found in captivity; not suitable for reef tanks.
Captive Care: This predatory brittle star forges for food at night and has been documented to eat firefishes, damselfishes, mandarinfishes, blennies, small gobies, cleaner wrasses, cleaner shrimps, and crabs.
However, if maintained in a tank dedicated to its care, it will be an excellent pet. Needs a cave or place out of bright light in which to lurk.
That was taken from "A PocketExpert Guide to Marine Invertebrates". This link might also help Green Brittle Stars (http://wetwebmedia.com/grbritstrf.htm).
Like I said to start, I had no problems with mine, but I wouldn't consider getting another considering all that I've read since I had one. The other coloured ones apparently aren't a problem, but I wouldn't risk one of those either!
HTH
Well, those are brittles as well. OP was asking about serpents. I just mentioned the brittle because that is what I have experience with. My neighbors giant brittle actually comes out when you put a frozen cube of food in your hand.. will eat out of your hand.. you can take it out of the tank for a short time and let it crawl up your arm.. pretty scary looking star.. but seems tame for its size. I have probably read the same "green monster" comments/articles you have but my experience is like yours was.. not what I have read.
rxdoc_85
03-10-2008, 5:53 PM
my serpent star is a "banded serpent star" or a "tiger-striped serpent star." he's a dark greyish brown with black stripes. there's no green on him whatsoever. he's pretty dainty, and i'm thinkin he'll be reef safe. i think i remember reading somehwere that this particular breed is safe, but i wanted to get some "expert advice." haha. i agree with ace that they are teriffic for cleaning up extra food, dead fish, etc. that's one reason i was so sorry to see my choco chip go, because he would clean up any detrius (sp?) he found in the tank, and loved to eat any livestock that would die. hopefully the serpant star can pick up the slack :)
My opinion, yes, a tiger serpent is reef safe from everything I have read about them. I actually thought of getting on of those myself but just never got around to it.
Still, it is always good to hear advice from multiple people.. especially ones with first hand experience.. which I don't have with that particular star.
dolfans1
03-10-2008, 6:30 PM
I've had a serpent star for about a year and he hasn't caused any problems (that I'm aware of). I sometimes don't see him for a couple weeks at a time because he stays so hidden in the rockwork.
Catpicklesdog
03-10-2008, 6:41 PM
Serpent stars and Brittle stars are often the same thing. Below is a picture of a Banded Brittle Starfish also known as Banded Serpent Star, Tiger-striped Fancy Serpent Sea Star or Tiger-striped Sea Star. Here's the link (http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=16&cat=1908&articleid=2185).
http://a1272.g.akamai.net/7/1272/1121/20020227222452/www.peteducation.com/images/articles/pw86421tiger_brittle.jpg
I think you'll be fine, I have a red/black brittlestar. I avoided the green ones because of experiences others have had as described and frankly I thought the red one was better looking. Expect them to be cryptic by the way. They tend to come out at night.
salty420
03-10-2008, 9:13 PM
yay seastars