Serpent Star fish Behavior

[Tennyson]

I just purchased a serpent starfish about 2-3 days ago, and acclimated it fairly well (for about 1 hour and 45 minutes to two hours) It seems OK now, adn I know that its eating because it ate one of my dead/dying green chromises.

But I'm not sure whats wrong with it, or if this is normal behavior, but it keeps staying in a small cave, with only its arms sort-of out. It doesn't even come out at night.

Is this normal behavior of serpent starfish, I heard that after they are acclimated, they may look dead for 2-3 days, is this true?

 

[black_majik]

That is normal, almost all serpents I know of do that exact thing. Once food hits the water and the star gets used to it he will start darting out from the crevice plus they are nocturnal.

 

[Tennyson]

I heard that they can be taught to come out during the day. How would I do that, does having more than one make them scavenge more?

 

[urbanthreatz]

Mine only scavenged for a short while, i feed everyday and he knows in the morning to come out and start looking, i just made him a small cave in the front out of some live rock and i can redily see him whenever i look at the tank.

 

[NewWorldWater]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11570450#post11570450 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Tennyson
I heard that they can be taught to come out during the day. How would I do that, does having more than one make them scavenge more?

I'd imagine you'd do it just like any animal. Feed them at the same time each day. If you want it to come out during the day, feed it in the mornings/early afternoons.

 

[LaDonaDorada]

i had mine eating from my hand all the time ( red/brown brittle) very cool and fun when company came over. took some time to get him to do it but it was worth it. other then that though only saw him out in the open every once in a while.

 

[lancer99]

Serpent/brittle stars are possibly the most chill of all reef residents.

They are by nature nocturnal, but also greedy little buggers, and will go for food like Robert Downey Jr. goes for crack.

If you want to train him to come out, put a reasonably sized (1/4" cube) of food close to wherever he's hiding....then repeat every day or couple of days, and gradually move it away.

As LDD mentioned, it's fun to feed them when company comes over. If you don't know how creepy their long curious legs are, it's pretty funny!

-R

 

[benzreef]

agreed!

 

[boomsticks]

I have to agree with lancer. I can hand feed mine clam. They litterally freak out about that stuff.