serpant starfish ??????

[steri]

Is there anything I need to know about them (eating habits, how they live, environment to thrive in, ect.) that would discourage me from me from getting one?

I refuse to buy sand sifting stars because of my concerns they would eventually starve in my 75. Would the same happen for a serpant star? I would like to get a star for my tank, but I'm not sure what I should be looking to get.

Also, would I need to be worried about my angels picking on a starfish? They don't pick on any of hte corals or other inverts I have, but I just htought I'd ask.

 

[SeanySean]

I have had one in the past and never saw him once! that should be enough to put you off! they are in the same family as brittle starfish and eat the same things (scavengers)

 

[taillonjohn]

I've had one for almost 2 years, no problems. its true they hide a lot, but I love it when people are looking at my tank, and then their like, "Oh my Gosh, what is that tenticle thing sticking out"! It basically cares for itself, and I think its a cool addition to a tank

 

[I'mRisenAquaRat]

SeanySean - I travel to the University of Liverpool often. Is there a local fish store around the city?

 

[FishHick]

I have a harlequin one in my tank. He comes out once in a while, usually when the lights are out. I target feed him mysis or peices of silverside once or twice a week.

 

[marduc]

serpent stars are indestructable it seems. I've had a pair that have been in my tank for 7 years.. no issues with starvation, no issues at all asides from occasionally one of them may end up with part of a leg cut off.. it grows back

 

[Nano Chris]

I have one in mine and see it all the time, it comes out to get food at night, really cool, Live Aquaria also carries ones that are colorful, really cool.

 

[steri]

thanks for the info guys!

 

[jdieck]

Just insure that it is a real serpent star fish. Brittle stars are more agressive and are not that reef safe.
Serpent stars can be fed with pieces of raw or cooked shrimp, scallops and such.

 

[HBtank]

I like mine, and see it pretty often. Like stated above, it can often be found sticking a leg or two out of the rocks feeling around... pretty cool.

 

[SeanySean]

I'mRisenAquaRat Liverpool in England? Just I notice that you are in Florida and I belive there is a Liverpool in the States?

 

[I'mRisenAquaRat]

Yes! in England. The Beatles Liverpool, with the Williamson tunnels and everything. Love the boats in the bombed out church BTW.

 

[MC Lighting]

I have 4 of them and they are doing very well in my 180 they like eating flake food as well as anything else I put in there, mine have even reproduced whcih was cool so I have several little guys running around I just don't know how many...

 

[marduc]

I've had my serpents spawn in my tank as well.. no offspring from the event, but I'm sure I had a lot of happy critters from the bonus food source


Pics in my gallery for those curious (I didn't get a decent shot of the male doing his thing, it was much more pronounced before I managed to grab a camera)

 

[mwwhite]

We learned the hard way that acclimation is the biggest issue with stars. They are very very sensitive and the longer the acclimation time the better their chances of survival.

We just added a fromi and acclimated for 3.5 hrs. It is doing fine so far.

 

[wooden_reefer]

They tend to be aggressive feeders on pieces of shrimp meat etc. Very keen sense of small and quite hardy in general.