New Serpent Starfish...

alexandra26 · Feb 29, 2020

Hello everyone,

Today, I went to my LFS and purchased a serpent starfish for my 75 gallon tank. One of the employees said it would be fine in my tank, and I’ve read up on it a little before buying it. I thought that everything would be okay, until I started reading up more about what the serpent starfish eat. I came across a few things where people claimed their serpents were eating small and slow fish, especially during the night. Being as paranoid as I am, I’m starting to panic. I have clownfish, damsels, a CUC (snails, hermit crabs, conch, emerald crab, other starfish), anemones, feather dusters, and a flame scallop. Should I have any concerns? I don’t want it to eat its tankmates... If it is an issue, I also have another 75g that has a porcupine puffer and a snowflake moray eel. I feel like the serpent star wouldn’t be safe, but I’m not sure. Does anyone have any experience with serpent starfish?

Ron Reefman · Feb 29, 2020

I've had 3 or 4 serpent and brittle stars in my old 40g and now in my 90g tank. I've never had any issues with the stars. They do clean up. And all of mine were wild caught in the Florida Keys!

ReefStable · Mar 1, 2020

Though each fish/invert can behave differently, for the most part you will likely be fine. Usually, these starfish can only catch REALLY slow fish, meaning they likely weren't likely to live anyway. Generally it will eat only sick fish. If you want to prevent any concern, you can feed the starfish krill and shrimp. Like most fish, keeping it fed will prevent agressive behavior.

Hope this helps

alexandra26 · Mar 1, 2020

Thanks for the replies!

I did feed it some shrimp last night, and he ate it. I didn’t see any missing fish this morning, so I’m going to be optimistic

ReefStable · Mar 1, 2020

alexandra26 said:
Thanks for the replies!

I did feed it some shrimp last night, and he ate it. I didn’t see any missing fish this morning, so I’m going to be optimistic

I have 2 in my tank with wrasse, clownfish, and a cardinal with no problems. They usually stay in their "caves". One comes out when it smells food, but that's about it.

Billdogg · Mar 1, 2020

IME, only the green and red serpent stars are predatory. They can also get very large. The more common brown and harlequin serpents are just fine, as are most brittle stars

alexandra26 · Mar 1, 2020

Mine is like a brownish/maroon color, thankfully. It has been hiding since I’ve put it in (except when I fed it shrimp). I think it will be okay...fingers crossed.

User1 · Mar 1, 2020

alexandra26 said:
Hello everyone,

Today, I went to my LFS and purchased a serpent starfish for my 75 gallon tank. One of the employees said it would be fine in my tank, and I’ve read up on it a little before buying it. I thought that everything would be okay, until I started reading up more about what the serpent starfish eat. I came across a few things where people claimed their serpents were eating small and slow fish, especially during the night. Being as paranoid as I am, I’m starting to panic. I have clownfish, damsels, a CUC (snails, hermit crabs, conch, emerald crab, other starfish), anemones, feather dusters, and a flame scallop. Should I have any concerns? I don’t want it to eat its tankmates... If it is an issue, I also have another 75g that has a porcupine puffer and a snowflake moray eel. I feel like the serpent star wouldn’t be safe, but I’m not sure. Does anyone have any experience with serpent starfish?

Could you please share what serpent starfish was that you bought? Color, what name they gave you, ans share any photos? The real answer depends on what you purchased. At a high level some information posted here is fine provided it is a bristle star. The orange, red, smooth body types to mixed tan and white, black white, etc are usually fine. They are smaller and scavengers.

On the other hand you said serpent starfish specifically so I right away go to Green Serpent Starfish which is more commonly sold. This is a Ophiarachna incrassata and they do, well, eat fish and anything else they can catch such as crabs and snails. What they do is make a mini cave, refuge point, but raising their body resting on their arms near a rock, hold, etc. Once the fish passes underneath they close and wrap arms and eat the thing they caught. Usually fish.

I've owned one back in 2000 and saw this first hand. Search on green brittle star or Ophiarachna incrassata and see if it matches. Then you will know. And yes, they really do eat fish.

alexandra26 · Mar 1, 2020

saf1 said:
Could you please share what serpent starfish was that you bought? Color, what name they gave you, ans share any photos? The real answer depends on what you purchased. At a high level some information posted here is fine provided it is a bristle star. The orange, red, smooth body types to mixed tan and white, black white, etc are usually fine. They are smaller and scavengers.

On the other hand you said serpent starfish specifically so I right away go to Green Serpent Starfish which is more commonly sold. This is a Ophiarachna incrassata and they do, well, eat fish and anything else they can catch such as crabs and snails. What they do is make a mini cave, refuge point, but raising their body resting on their arms near a rock, hold, etc. Once the fish passes underneath they close and wrap arms and eat the thing they caught. Usually fish.

I've owned one back in 2000 and saw this first hand. Search on green brittle star or Ophiarachna incrassata and see if it matches. Then you will know. And yes, they really do eat fish.

At my LFS, the tag read “Serpent Starfish” with a generic picture. It’s not a green serpent starfish. It’s more of a brown color with maroon in it. I would share a photo, but unfortunately it is hiding under one of my live rocks at the moment...

alexandra26 · Mar 1, 2020

Here is picture from when I first put it in
It’s not a good picture

User1 · Mar 1, 2020

alexandra26 said:
Here is picture from when I first put it in
It’s not a good picture

Thanks. Good news is that isn't the Ophiarachna incrassata

So you can ignore my original reply.

John3 · Mar 1, 2020

I have a few that came as hitchhikers from my gulf live rock. I’ve never actually seen them in entirety, just some long arms sticking out from under rock. The arms are a good 4-6” that I can see. I’d bet they are pretty big. I don’t think they ever caused any issues, but I have had some small fish disappear over the years. A six line wrasse, yellow clown goby, and I’m sure something I am forgetting about.