Getting a star?

[Nano Chris]

I was interested in getting a star but i wasn't sure if either of these are safe for a reef? Brittle Sea Star Or a Serpent (Banded Sea Star)

What do you recommend for a mixed reef? Also i read they eat seafood and detritus how would they eat the seafood, how would you go about feeding them it. Also which would be ok in a 90 gallon?

 

[Lion_Babe]

I would use a banded since brittles can eat hermies and snails. My stars (all different types) usually come running if i drop any food into the tank...especially the food that sinks. Shrimp pellets work great, mysis, krill, squid....Just my opinion.

 

[bertoni]

Serpent stars and brittle stars are the same group, so I'm confused. The green brittle star can be very predatory. The others are less predatory, but they're all a bit of a risk.

 

[Nano Chris]

I do have snails and hermits so the banded wont bother them?

 

[Lion_Babe]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9591262#post9591262 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bertoni
Serpent stars and brittle stars are the same group, so I'm confused. The green brittle star can be very predatory. The others are less predatory, but they're all a bit of a risk.

All brittles can go after your small guys in your tank. Even though the banded comes from the same family it normally doesn't go after snails etc. They are more peaceful and their "tooth" they have is built a bit different. Yes, they are all risks, but a banded is far less of a risk.

 

[tedmc2]

I've got 5 or 6 brittle stars (that I know of) that must have come with my live sand. They are grey with black bands. I've only seen arms sticking out from under the rocks. They must be quite large as the arms I've seen are a good 4 to 5 inches long.

I've never had a problem with them.

 

[Lion_Babe]

A lot of LFS and some books have mislabled the brittle and banded. SO be careful.

 

[bertoni]

Okay, I need to be more clear. A brittle star is a serpent star and a serpent star is a brittle star. The terms are synonymous and interchangeable. The banded ones might be less predatory. The green are the worst of the ones we commonly see.

 

[DouglasTiede]

just get linkias...

 

[badpvtdan]

Linkias have a dismal survival rate in the beginning. If you get one, make sure you have a well established, stable tank. I prefer the striped brittle stars...he comes out at night and grosses the kid out.