serpant star

[edd]

wondering if someone can help. i purchased green serpent star from a mf member can i put it in my dt. i have it in my sump right know. i must of read 10 articles and got 10 different answers. dt is mixed reef fish and corals.i have watchman goby that i was concerned about.

 

[skene]

Green serpents are notorious fish eaters... beware.

 

[44santababy]

here is my experience, i have a huge red serpent. Maybe 10 inches across and the disc bigger than a quarter. I feed him weekly only very small chunks of silver side. He is unable to eat a whole fish yet a 1/2 a fish. I do not see this star ever catching a healthy fish yet eating one whole. Mine is completely docile but its a red one. I've heard stories about green ones but still i cant see them catching/eating a healthy fish. Their mouths just cant fit the fish in. Once again that's why i need to cut my silver sides very small so he can eat it. Really cool to see their bodies stretch to the meat. Now someone is going to say that theirs ate a whole clown, i dont buy it...awesome creatures to have. I have two in my 120...

 

[Jim]

I had one. Their nickname is "Green Death". Mine kept eating my ornamental shrimp. I wouldn't put him in with any small fish or shrimp.

 

[jgraz]

Its the green ones that are know fish eaters. They are safe to add, but if you start having things disappear they would be a likly culprit. Ive done some reading on them, its apparently the way the trap the fish. Even healthy fish have little chance.

 

[peteyboyny]

As per Chucksaddiction.com/hitchhikers:
Beware the Midnight Fish Eater!
One species in common use warrants a statutory warning. This is the Green Brittle Star of the genus Ophiarachna. This animal is a predatory fish eater, that does indeed do a spiffy janitorial job when small... but grows quickly, and under darkness of night can/does learn to eat aquarium fishes. This species has been documented to arch up in "sleeping caves" of captive fishes and drop down on unsuspecting meals. If you use this species, keep an eye on it, and a count on your piscine livestock.

Here's the link
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/brittlestars.htm

 

[edd]

thanks everyone, petyboyny you were right, i did some research their are two green serpents, the ophiarachna incrassana that has short blunt spines on legs, this is the fish eater and thats the one i have. so he's up for grabs if anybody wants him free. he's about 10"

 

[skene]

If you have a sump, put him in the sump. they still do great as a member of your clean up crew.

 

[edd]

thanks,he's been in my sump since i got him. can he go in fuge.

 

[rhdoug]

you don't want any predatory critters in the fuge if you are trying to add small life to the display.