Did I make a mistake??

[shawnalammers]

I have a 3 month old 12gal Biocube. It has 2 oscelaris (sp?) 3 hermits, 2 astrea (sp?) snails, zoas, ricordias, green star polyps, green serpent star, and recently added 2 sexy shrimp with frogspawn for them to host. This was Saturday, and all had been well, but I noticed this morning that one shrimp is MIA. I've been reading about serpents possibly eating them, and I wonder if you all believe that could be the case. I should have read up on it to begin with, but I ALWAYS give the guys I buy from a rundown of what I have before I bring anything else home. They also didn't inform me that the shrimp will eat zoas, which is most of what I have! Anyway, if the other shrimp is at risk of being eaten by the serpent star, is there anything you recommend I do to protect it? Or should I get it out and take it back? I tweezer feed the star Rod's Food a couple times a week, so it shouldn't be starving enough to eat an entire shrimp! The shrimp are also larger than the body of the star, but I don't know if that makes a difference. I would appreciate any input or suggestions! Thanks in advance!

 

[Reef Breeders Verified Sponsor]

serpent stars are notoriuos for eating fish, inverts, etc., usually when they are larger than the invert/fish. I would wait and see if he turns up, and if he doesn't I would get rid of the sea star, sea stars and urchins are not worth the risk/possible annoyances IME.

 

[matty0206]

I don't think the serpent ate the shrimp. Sexy shrimp have a way of hiding very well. He could also be molting and hiding while his shell hardens.

 

[Connie]

serpent stars are notoriuos for eating fish, inverts, etc., usually when they are larger than the invert/fish. I would wait and see if he turns up, and if he doesn't I would get rid of the sea star, sea stars and urchins are not worth the risk/possible annoyances IME.

Amen on the urchins! They are like bull doziers!

 

[shawnalammers]

Yeah, I'm not crazy about urchins, so no worries there. I'm hoping you're right, Matty. There aren't a whole lot of hiding places in my little tank, but I hope he just found a really good spot.

 

[REEFKEEPER10]

i have several serpent stars and have never had a problem. if it is a green brittle star then watch out because the literally hunt fish and shrimp or maybe it is a green serpent star. i would research both to make sure

 

[Tabasco1]

I had a brown serpent star and watched him take down 2 hermit crabs in 2 days. Into the fuge he went until I could get him a new home. Mine would eat like a pig. I don't doubt it could eat a sexy shrimp at one sitting unless it was very small.

It was horrible, the hermit was trying to crawl free of the star desperately and the star was a whirling mass of arms

 

[CJO]

It's the green serpent star that traps fish and inverts. If you like the other inhabitants of your aquarium, I'd get rid of him.

cJ

 

[shawnalammers]

Update: They are both alive and well! I guess you were right, Matty, that it was hiding somewhere. I'm so relieved, but still a little on edge about the serpent. I've had the serpent for about 3 weeks, and it's always hidden in the same spot and never really bothered anything. I've noticed that it's found a new spot that is more in the open and closer to the shrimp. I'm considering still getting rid of it, as much as I LOVE it. I love tweezer feeding it and watching it go crazy when I feed everything else. I just love my sexies more. I've been looking for them for weeks, and finally found them in stock. I'm torn. Advice?

Another question: have you had issues with your sexies eating your corals?

 

[matty0206]

Glad they are both alive and well. In my opinion and this is just my opinion. I think the serpent will be fine, especially since you feed him. I think a lot of the issues we have with inverts are because we throw them in our tanks and don't directly feed them. I had a red one in the second tank I had and loved him. He became trained and would come to the front glass to eat out of my hand. He never bothered anything and I had him for well over a year. I think people mistake these stars as killers when in actuality they are just scavenging. The fish and inverts they are eating were sick or dying or were dead already. Brittle stars on the other hand I don't like. They get huge and I think do actively hunt.

As far as the sexies go. I know the trio I had in a 3g pico always ****** my zoas off so bad they stayed closed all the time. They are constant scavengers and will dig around in the mouths of polyps trying to get food. I never saw mine actualy eat coral, I think it's more they irritate them. I know some people do claim they eat the corals but only in small amounts and only if really hungry.

Just my 2 cents. You should post a pic when you get a chance.

 

[CJO]

Is this what you have?
The Echinoblog: Giant Green Brittle Stars of DEATH!! When they ATTACK--AGAIN!!

CJ

 

[Tabasco1]

This is what I had. Granted he was pretty big, I'd say his arms when stretched out were 6" in diameter and his body was about the size of a half dollar. And also, the hermit had left his shell and was trying to get into another shell so he was vulnerable.

 

[shawnalammers]

Is this what you have?
The Echinoblog: Giant Green Brittle Stars of DEATH!! When they ATTACK--AGAIN!!

CJ

No. What I have is pretty much what Tabasco1 posted, only green. He doesn't seem to ever hunt, although I know they prefer to come out at night. He's on my watch list, but I don't suspect he'll hurt anything. I do directly feed the star and shrimp every 2-3 days, and that seems to be keeping them satisfied, but not so much so that they don't do what they are hired for. lol!

I will try to figure out how to post pics. I can't take very good ones. Just have a little canon powershot. The star hides all the time. I'm sure I can get a few of the sexies and of my general setup if you're interested.

 

[CJO]

No. What I have is pretty much what Tabasco1 posted, only green. He doesn't seem to ever hunt, although I know they prefer to come out at night. He's on my watch list, but I don't suspect he'll hurt anything. I do directly feed the star and shrimp every 2-3 days, and that seems to be keeping them satisfied, but not so much so that they don't do what they are hired for. lol!

I will try to figure out how to post pics. I can't take very good ones. Just have a little canon powershot. The star hides all the time. I'm sure I can get a few of the sexies and of my general setup if you're interested.

Just keep an eye on him. Also, they don't really hunt, they trap. They set up so that they are still and the fish think that they are an alcove. They shelter in this "alcove" at night to sleep and then it closes the trap on the fish.

Pics are good. I'm sure we'd all like to see your setup.

CJ

 

[mcarroll]

I had a brown serpent star and watched him take down 2 hermit crabs in 2 days. Into the fuge he went until I could get him a new home. Mine would eat like a pig. I don't doubt it could eat a sexy shrimp at one sitting unless it was very small.

It was horrible, the hermit was trying to crawl free of the star desperately and the star was a whirling mass of arms

+1

They're like one of those Matrix creatures when they are chasing prey! LOL.

I had a brown one that ate a Porcelain Crab that was bigger than his body disc. If he wasn't Porcelain Crab shaped when I looked in the morning I would never have guessed.

They're super-neat creatures - closest thing to an octopus short of an octopus - but I just don't trust serpent/brittle stars anymore.

-Matt

 

[shawnalammers]

Here's an attempt at some photos. I couldn't get any decent full tank pics. I must have to wait until it's dark. I get all kinds of glare. Hope it works!
He blends in so well with the frogspawn.

I'm including this to ask if you know what kind of algae this is and if I need to get rid of it...not a good photo, but the best I could do.

Another shot of the algae.

I've also noticed tiny little fanworms/tubeworms/featherduster/anemone? looking things on my glass. I scrape them off, and they're back a couple hours later. Any ideas what's going on here? I also have them all over the rocks, but they are bigger. I'm sure there are smaller ones, too, but I just can't see them. I just worry about how much nutrients they are sucking out of the water. They are everywhere...good? bad? indifferent? Sorry, I know I'm taking this thread in a hundred directions...lol! You all have been helpful, and I figure y'all know what you're talking about so it would be easier to ask here.

 

[CJO]

He must blend in well with the frogspawn, I don't even see him!

As for the algae, it's hard to tell with the blurry picture, but it looks like it could be bryopsis or feather caulerpa. Either way is bad news. Briopsis can usually be taken care of by raising your magnesium to around 1600 (slowly) with Tech M. Feather caulerpa needs to be manually removed again and again. I'm not sure if you can manually remove it and then put kalk paste on what's left or not, but it might be good to try. I'd lean more towards briopsis because of the size.

Can you get a picture of the worms/anemones/?. It sounds like hydroids which may or may not end up being a problem. I wouldn't worry about them taking too many nutrients out of the water.

CJ

 

[shawnalammers]

He must blend in well with the frogspawn, I don't even see him!

As for the algae, it's hard to tell with the blurry picture, but it looks like it could be bryopsis or feather caulerpa. Either way is bad news. Briopsis can usually be taken care of by raising your magnesium to around 1600 (slowly) with Tech M. Feather caulerpa needs to be manually removed again and again. I'm not sure if you can manually remove it and then put kalk paste on what's left or not, but it might be good to try. I'd lean more towards briopsis because of the size.

Can you get a picture of the worms/anemones/?. It sounds like hydroids which may or may not end up being a problem. I wouldn't worry about them taking too many nutrients out of the water.

CJ

He's there in the first and second pictures, I promise! lol!

I googled hydroids, and this is what I have: Hydroid Problem????
What should I do?

I googled the two algae that you suggested it might be and nothing looks exactly like it. I'll try to get a better photo later on.

I sure appreciate your help! Very much, thank you!

 

[shawnalammers]

Was also thinking that I could just cut off the part of the rock/dead coral with the algae growing out of it. I bought it as a frag and it just has a cluster of zoas that aren't near that end. It's not really needed space. It looks kinda neat, but I don't want any more nuisance species!

 

[CJO]

He's there in the first and second pictures, I promise! lol!

I googled hydroids, and this is what I have: Hydroid Problem????
What should I do?

I googled the two algae that you suggested it might be and nothing looks exactly like it. I'll try to get a better photo later on.

I sure appreciate your help! Very much, thank you!

Those types of hydroids usually will die out once your tank starts to mature. I wouldn't worry about them too much.

However, breaking off the part of the rock with the algae growing on it would probably be a good idea. Once they start to spread, they are hard to stop. Try googling caulerpa and see if any of them look similar.

CJ