ID sea-star please

[cryptodendrum]

Hi,

I've had this thing for a few years in my sump, after it rode in on a bit of rock & coral. It seems to do well in the sump, but I wondered it if I could move it up to my reef-tank or would it damage it?

Would anyone be able to tell me what species it is, and where I could get more info on it and what it feeds on?

TIA,

cryptodendrum

 

[LeslieH]

Good pictures. If you know where the live rock came from we've have a better chance of id'ing your brittle star.

 

[CaveManNOhio]

It's a serpent brittle star. They are opportunistic eaters. They will feed off of what hit's the bottom or rock's. Some are also known to catch and eat small fish. Other than that they are reef safe IMO

 

[cryptodendrum]

Thanks LesileH, but I'm not sure I can say where the sea-star, much less the rock, is from.

Even if I could tell the source of the rock, I would suspect that various critters would have at least a few oppurtunities to "jump rock" as they travel along their distribution path, thus negating any real possibility of accurately revealing the origin of a critter that could just be "hitching a ride."

 

[cryptodendrum]

CaveManNOhio: do you think a 1inch-and-a-half long clownfish would be safe from this one?

I also have a Blue Linkia in my tank, would this serpent star present any problems to it?

PS - love the sig ---> "When The Going Get's Weird, The Weird Turn Pro"

 

[CaveManNOhio]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6623331#post6623331 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cryptodendrum
CaveManNOhio: do you think a 1inch-and-a-half long clownfish would be safe from this one?

I also have a Blue Linkia in my tank, would this serpent star present any problems to it?

PS - love the sig ---> "When The Going Get's Weird, The Weird Turn Pro"

I think the clown will be safe. They don't tend to travel into the rocks to much. And as long as it's getting food when the tank is fed it will be happy. Always watch them though. One can never say any thing for sure with the critters in our tanks.

My Blue Linkia and Sand Sifting Star cross paths with it often and it doesn't bother either of them. There is also a feather Star in my tank and it doesn't mess with it at all.
Mine just comes out to the rock's edge when the food starts hitting the water and will grab up a couple chunks of frozen food that float down. Then out side of that he pretty much stay's out of sight.

My sig was taught to me by a very good friend about 20 years ago. I can't remember what book or author it comes from. My friend was known as my mirror image. We were both born on the same day 20 years apart. We worked on a dive boat together in Key Largo.