Serpent Sea Star eating fish?

[the3kgt2]

I just noticed my Caribbean Serpent Sea Star guzzling down one of my Sleeper Striped Gobies. The goby seemed perfectly healthy yesterday and was eating fine. I know that serpent sea stars are generally peaceful and usually only eat things that are already dead, but I have no idea what else could have killed it. I've had the sea star for several years and I always catch him trying to grab fish every once in a while. There were a couple medium sized hermit crabs munching on the carcass when I spotted it too. The goby looked to have only been dead a couple hours. The goby was paired up with another one, so I'm hesitant to replace him...I don't want him to just get killed again. Any ideas or advice?

 

[JoeCreature]

That is odd. Then again I have walked in to see a pencil urchin chowing down on a still live and very angry pipefish. As with anything from the ocean what we think we know is not 100%. I would make sure all your water parameters are good if you haven't already just to rule out other possibilities other than a predatory sea star.

 

[sjfishguy]

If its one of the greenish serpents they are known fish catchers/eaters

 

[the3kgt2]

Nope, he's black/grey. I think this is the 3rd or 4th time I've seen him eating a fish. I just can't determine if he was the killer every time, or if he was just getting a free meal.