Brittle Starfish Identification

[cafowlr]

Is someone able to help me identify this brittle starfish?

This brittle starfish is being offered as a donation to my 72 gallon tank by a friend who is moving away (sadly, without her tank). All my friend can tell me is that when purchasing, she was told it is was "Ophiarachna sp", grows up to 10", is reef safe and is peaceful. When researching online, I found that there are more than 2,000 such described species: they are carnivores, and they are actually semi-aggressive toward other tankmates (and may attack and eat small fish).

I want to verify that this is indeed a community/peaceful starfish, since it would share a tank with 2 (one still really small, tank-bread) Ocellaris clownfish and some snails. If you're able to help or share advice, I'd appreciate it!

 

[captkaos13]

looks like a green serpent star......still capable of predation on slow moving small bottom fish such as small gobies

 

[cafowlr]

isn't the green serpent star smaller? like it only gets to 2-3"? This one is at least 5-8"

Thanks!

 

[charlesr1958]

Ophiarachna incrassata, They get quite large and are predators of what ever they can catch, which includes fish. Its no coincidence that any rock that has one or two of these starfish living under / within it has no damsels using it as shelter. I can take a piece of bait (fish) with me when snorkeling or diving, and just the smell of the dead fish has these starfish running to me, quite fast for a starfish too!

Check the starfish section:
http://www.chucksaddiction.com/hitchhikers.html

Chuck

 

[cafowlr]

Thanks for the website. It actually looks just like this one:

Ophiocoma erinaceus Muller & Troschel 1842, the Spiny Brittle Star. Indo-Pacific. To 5.5 inches in diameter. Dark by day, grayish bands by night. Found in association with living corals. Hawai'i' pic at night.