Serpent Star ???

[erndog1001]

I recently got 4 of these as part of cleaner package I bought online. They are all about 6" across their out stretched arms. The website (reefcleaners) said they are reef safe and I couldn't find any negative comments about them.
Anyways all of a sudden I'm missing some fish.
2- Black Mollies
1- Ocel clown
All 3 have vanished without a trace and I was wondering is these starfish cold be the culprits?

 

[MikeandNicole]

I doubt it is the stars.
I have kept serpent stars for years, in everything from 5g tanks to our current 205g tank.
If you got brittle stars instead, I would be concerned- but I have never had a problem with a serpent star catching a fish. My serpent stars are 4 years old, 4 years old, and a newly purchased star Mike bought me last week. My largest is about 10-12" tip to tip. They leave my small gobies, small blennies, and larger clowns alone. I think the stars are unlikely to be the problem.

 

[Recliner]

I have a 16" serpent star and he's never bothered any fish.

 

[supra400hptt]

I have a gobie that sleeps under a rock with my serpeant. I keep the serpeant fed though so it would never need to go hunting.

 

[pagojoe]

You hope, lol. The green serpent stars are known for being fish catchers. The others may try to catch fish also, or blunder into them and wrap them up. Most of the large ones will kill and eat crustaceans, particularly shrimp.

Cheers,



Don

 

[Recliner]

I had a 18+" green brittle star for about 6 months. I fed it every other day and didn't have a problem with it hunting any of my fish. It was very quick to go for the food at feeding time though. Very interesting to watch. I did sell it pretty quick once I learned they are well known fish killers though.

 

[Meanmike]

I have several large brittle and serpent stars that coexist with sixteen firefish most of them spend lights out under the same rock as the starfish. I think most people have issues because they don't feed properly the same goes for crabs they get a bad rep just because they would like to eat.

 

[robotman]

I have several large brittle and serpent stars that coexist with sixteen firefish most of them spend lights out under the same rock as the starfish. I think most people have issues because they don't feed properly the same goes for crabs they get a bad rep just because they would like to eat.

2 serpent stars for 4 months no problems, never seen them bother anything, they love ovamar prawn eggs and never move for much else.

 

[imsalty]

Our green brittle is 16 inches long. He made a few fish disappear. He has sense been banished to the fuge

 

[Courtney13]

My serpent is harmless as well