I would like to add some type of brittle/serpent star to my 65 gal tank. I heard that some types will catch fish. There are the green serpent start with smooth bodies and the hairy brittle stars. Which would be reef safe and fish safe?? Is there some other type of star with would be good??
Brittle/Serpent Star Which one is bad??
- Thread starter Water World
- Start date
in my friends tank his serpent star would perch over a crevice in the rock and try to drop down on fish and other things that passed under it. i don't think it ever got anything, but that's the only experience with serpents. most brittle stars are detrivores and i have one in my tank and nothing has gone unaccounted for so far. hopefully other people have some different experiences.
according to John Tullock in Natural Reef Aquariums
"brittle stars make a fine addition to the aquarium.....and all are excellent scavengers, coming out at night to feed on bacteria, plankton, debris, and bits of deat animal matter. brittle stars are named so because they are easily damaged by handling. they will not survive in the aquarium unless provided with shelter into which they can retire to escape the light."
according to John Tullock in Natural Reef Aquariums
"brittle stars make a fine addition to the aquarium.....and all are excellent scavengers, coming out at night to feed on bacteria, plankton, debris, and bits of deat animal matter. brittle stars are named so because they are easily damaged by handling. they will not survive in the aquarium unless provided with shelter into which they can retire to escape the light."
Last edited:
Hmmm ... Now I'm confused. I've heard stories on both sides. Depending on who you talk to you get different experiences. Part of the story could be feeding. If the star can't find what it wants it may start hunting fish. I think I've heard of someone feeding their star some shrimp pellets or algae pellets even. Well... I'm not sure what to believe. 
My emerald green brittle star wasn't all that brittle. I kept it in my tank w/my clown trigger who took a few nips at it initially, couldn't do anything to it, and then left it alone. It stayed under my rocks during the day, and would stretch it's arms out to grab the krill I fed it. At night it would crawl all over the place. Unfortunately during my Amlyoodinium outbreak a couple years ago the half dose of Greenex I used killed it 
But I later found out they are highly predatory on sandbed fauna, so I suppose my tank is better off in a way.
Cool critters, but make sure they aren't going to prey heavily on your sandbed fauna populations.
But I later found out they are highly predatory on sandbed fauna, so I suppose my tank is better off in a way. Cool critters, but make sure they aren't going to prey heavily on your sandbed fauna populations.
Waterworld,
I have a green brittle star which has grown to about 12 inches tip to tip. i have seen him try to grab every fish i have not by the lifting it self up and dropping on them method but still unsuccsessful ( too big i think). It also tries to steal food from anemone and that looks horrible to see a spiked arm grab a soft little tentacle and rip withsome force. I would not get another one unless i have large fish and plenty of room to grow. But cool to watch eat which is all i really see of it.
I have a green brittle star which has grown to about 12 inches tip to tip. i have seen him try to grab every fish i have not by the lifting it self up and dropping on them method but still unsuccsessful ( too big i think). It also tries to steal food from anemone and that looks horrible to see a spiked arm grab a soft little tentacle and rip withsome force. I would not get another one unless i have large fish and plenty of room to grow. But cool to watch eat which is all i really see of it.
Boogiechillin
It's ok, I confuse my students too.
Neither brittle nor serpent stars will feed on sand infauna to any destructive extent. Only sand sifting starfish (eg, Archaster typicus) are risky in this regard.
Understand that the distinction between brittle and serpent stars is a totally arbitrary thing that people in the hobby have cooked up for themselves - scientifically, they aren't in different families. Both serpents and brittles will rob corals and other sessile critters if they aren't getting enough food themselves. IF ADEQUATELY FED, either should be ok. This means that you can't just leave them to scavenge on their own; you need to make a point to spot feed these guys with pieces of shrimp or krill. Still, I would avoid Ophiarachna incrassata, the green brittlestar that has been mentioned in this thread. It seems to have a more predatory nature even when well-fed, and it gets a bit on the large side.
FWIW, urchins are actually more risky additions IMO as all can be unpredictable. Coralline algae consumption is a given, but they will also plow through macroalgaes and the occasional soft coral. (Some urchin species are omnivorous and will eat meats when available).
Understand that the distinction between brittle and serpent stars is a totally arbitrary thing that people in the hobby have cooked up for themselves - scientifically, they aren't in different families. Both serpents and brittles will rob corals and other sessile critters if they aren't getting enough food themselves. IF ADEQUATELY FED, either should be ok. This means that you can't just leave them to scavenge on their own; you need to make a point to spot feed these guys with pieces of shrimp or krill. Still, I would avoid Ophiarachna incrassata, the green brittlestar that has been mentioned in this thread. It seems to have a more predatory nature even when well-fed, and it gets a bit on the large side.
FWIW, urchins are actually more risky additions IMO as all can be unpredictable. Coralline algae consumption is a given, but they will also plow through macroalgaes and the occasional soft coral. (Some urchin species are omnivorous and will eat meats when available).