What eats serpent stars?
- Thread starter kungen
- Start date
SeanT
Premium Member
Sounds like they are mini brittle stars.
Detrivores.
Their population will increase and decrease depending on how "dirty" (how much detritus) you have in your tank.
They are helping to process waste...but if you really want them gone you could try a Harlequin shrimp (Hymenocera picta). They feed on echinoderms (starfish).
hth,
Sean
Detrivores.
Their population will increase and decrease depending on how "dirty" (how much detritus) you have in your tank.
They are helping to process waste...but if you really want them gone you could try a Harlequin shrimp (Hymenocera picta). They feed on echinoderms (starfish).
hth,
Sean
A Harlequin might be a good idea! 
Do they eat all echinoderms? I have sand shifting star that I would like to keep....
But it would be easy to remove to get the brittle stars under control at least.
I'm a bit surprised how quickly the brittle stars have reproduced. My tank is acctually quite clean with lots of SPS growing like crazy. I do feed the tank alot with phytoplankton... so I suspect they could be filter feeders more than detrivores...
Do they eat all echinoderms? I have sand shifting star that I would like to keep....
But it would be easy to remove to get the brittle stars under control at least.
I'm a bit surprised how quickly the brittle stars have reproduced. My tank is acctually quite clean with lots of SPS growing like crazy. I do feed the tank alot with phytoplankton... so I suspect they could be filter feeders more than detrivores...
TippyToeX
Premium Member
I think getting a harlequin is a very bad idea. Not only are they delicate creatures, they are not meant to be kept (nor should they ever be IMHO) as starfish population control. You are only encouraging the place you buy them from to bring in more. Not a good thing as they are really for a more advanced reef keeper who is willing to live with their food requirements.
You have so many mini brittles, or what ever starfish invasion because you are keeping them well fed. Stop that and they will die off. Why are you feeding phyto?
And why get rid of them (stars) in the first place? Are they being destructive? Or just unsightly?
You have so many mini brittles, or what ever starfish invasion because you are keeping them well fed. Stop that and they will die off. Why are you feeding phyto?
And why get rid of them (stars) in the first place? Are they being destructive? Or just unsightly?
They are mostly unsightly. A few here and there is fine with me but now I have way too many.
I'd like to keep feeding phyto because my tank has never been better. I have sponges, fan worm and much more growing nicely. All the water parameters are excellent and everything looks fat and happy.
I would not buy a harlequin if I didn't think I could give them the right enviroment. But I doubt 1 harlequin could do that big impact on the thousands of stars I have.
I'd like to keep feeding phyto because my tank has never been better. I have sponges, fan worm and much more growing nicely. All the water parameters are excellent and everything looks fat and happy.
I would not buy a harlequin if I didn't think I could give them the right enviroment. But I doubt 1 harlequin could do that big impact on the thousands of stars I have.
sivad
Member
My limited understanding is that Harlequins tend to eat only the tube feet of starfish and generally leave the brittles alone (assuming your brittles dont have tube feet). Some owners have posted that their harlequins have eaten more than the tube feet though. Stunning picture! Wow.
