what would you spot feed a serpant star?

[Teremei]

I have a star and I want to keep him well fed. I know exactly where he hides all day. Under a ball of chaeto. I was thinking about freeze dryed krill. What do you think is a good idea (please only reply if you have a small serpant star that you yourself feed)

 

[mtfatwork]

I have had several serpent stars and they would all go crazy over mysis shrimp

 

[Teremei]

I could blow some frozen mysis under there but how do I know it's getting it? The reason I was thinking freeze dried krill is because it's so much bigger, I'd probably see the serpant actually go after it. Thanks for your idea still.

 

[daddypugg]

I also had a serpeant star go crazy for mysis. sometimes I would watch the tank and I would feed when the star wasn't moving much, and as soon as the shrimp were released it's arms would start to go crazy.

Oh and also I have had a couple of times (after he was bigger) come to where I was spot feeding just to steel the food.

HTH,

 

[Fred_J]

I feed mine cut up silversides. I use tongs and when the fish gets near the serpent star they go crazy, arms stretching out toward the fish. I don't release the fish until an arm is completely wrapped around it.
It's amazing to me how quickly they can sense the silverside.

Fred

 

[mcox33]

Okay I use to feed mine frozen krill but they like about any frozen or dried food (if it is dried please soak it in some tank water for a few minutes before feeding.) I use to hand feed mine. other times I would put the food in a little tube beside him and he would go take it . you can tell if he is eatting because his center disc of his body will become rounded like a ball instead of flat like a quarter.

 

[Teremei]

Ok so I should actually be targeting his arms and not his disc. Yes I notice his disc is a little caves so I'm going to spot feed him alot now. So his arms will actually grab onto it and only then will I know I am successful.

How do you guys suggest feeding something so small like a mysis shrimp though? With what istrument?

 

[Fred_J]

Mine gets mysis when I feed the whoke tank. I think its kinda small for them. I do remember someone saying not to feed them too often because they will no longer be doing thier job as part of the cleanup crew.
Fred

 

[Teremei]

I originally bought him as a "cleanup critter" but I noticed his disc is shrunken in. So I feel the need to spot feed him some.

 

[JENnKerry]

We used to target feed ours all kinds of stuff....you name it, we fed it. He would wrap his legs around the cyringe and eat from it. REally cool. But they are scavengers and we don't really direct feed anymore.

 

[lossman]

We spot feed ours pieces of silversides about every other week. We have to make sure we feed the fish well first though as the fish will steal the silversides from the stars!

 

[lfjewett]

Man I don't know what's up with all of your stars but mine is a madman when the food starts flowing. I soak a bit of flake in tank water and drop it down the hatch. The Shrimp / Fish grab their fill and then the Hermit crabs / Nassaris snails / star all fight for what hits the bottom. It was quiet funny to watch my star pick up a Nass snail and throw him away from where he wanted to be.

But to answer your question my star eats mysis shrimp and flake food like it's going out of style.

 

[gary faulkner]

I spot-feed my small serpent star with mysis. He loves it. He also likes Hiktari crab bites.

 

[EmergencyDpt]

<img src="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/EmergencyDpt/CIMG1130.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">

 

[Teremei]

I just spot fed my star for the first time and it was so cool!! He grabbed onto that flake and went at it. He is more displaying more flexibility and speed than when I first added him. He's really starting to get comfortable now!

Does feeding him out of your fingers cause any problems? I sort of felt his arms, like he has tiny folicles or something that grabbes onto things. Is this correct?