Sea stars and reefs

[Deweys Dad]

I want to get a brittle star or a serpent star (if there is even a difference). I'm afriad to buy something that might not be reef safe, so could you guys help me out and tell me if there is a particular kind I should stay away from? MY LFS currently has a yellow brittle star that I'd like to get...

 

[bboy aqua]

most stars are reef safe
I dont know of any that arnt
a brittle would be fine

 

[trav_shock]

From what I've read serpents and brittles are both reef safe as well as Linkias (even though I don not reccemend them) and sand sifters.

 

[Deweys Dad]

Sand sifters are considered good for a reef so long as you're not running a DSB though, correct? I subscribe to the belief that a DSB should not be disturbed.

 

[graveyardworm]

I would stay away from the sand sifter stars, mostly because they typically starve due to lack of appropriate food. Most serpents and brittles are well behaved, but a quick search will reveal that they are opportunistic feeders and arent necessarily always model citizens. There is one well known serpent cant remember the name at the moment which is predatory and would be a bad choice, and its green.

 

[FEEDERFISH]

I have 2 brittle stars a yellow in with my DSB and a red in my barebottom, once a week i feed them a piece of krill, and i have had the yellow over 2 years and the red for a year.....I have crocea clams in with the red and no problems, the yellow sometime stands up on his legs the central disk is about 3 inches off the sand, i think he is trying to catch small fish or food that might float by, i have never seen them capture any of my fish they are just to slow