Spider looking identification ask

Wvreefnewb · Jan 25, 2018

After cleaning my reef tank I sat down to admire my work. I then saw this rather large looking spider thing on my live rock. It then stood up and extracted a milky residue. What in lords names is this. I thought it was cool that it grew from the tank somehow but heard of how they can be detrimental to some type of corals. Help a brother out.

Crabs McJones · Jan 25, 2018

Serpent sea star

Wvreefnewb · Jan 25, 2018

crabs_mcjones said:
Serpent sea star

Are they harmful to the tank?

Crabs McJones · Jan 25, 2018

Wvreefnewb said:
Are they harmful to the tank?

They're deemed reef safe. Should be ok. Just keep an eye on him

Wvreefnewb · Jan 25, 2018

This one had six legs not 5

Crabs McJones · Jan 25, 2018

Wvreefnewb said:
This one had six legs not 5

Perhaps brittle star then. Lets see if anyone else from #reefsquad knows

saltyfilmfolks · Jan 25, 2018

Cool. Not positive ya a serpent, my guess would be brittle Star.

And it was spawning (I know, I blushed a little too)

Big G · Jan 25, 2018

They like to eat very small clams. So if you are feeding your fish half clams, etc. you're probably, unknowingly feeding these guys. Otherwise they just feed off of other detritus. Cool find. I like them a lot.

Brittle stars have more spikes legs; sea serpents are smoother legs. Can't quite tell from the pic. Looks more "Brittle"- ish.

Wvreefnewb · Jan 25, 2018

So if I have one I will probably have others? Was it created in the tank?

KJ · Jan 25, 2018

I see brittle star with 4/5/6 arms

Crabs McJones · Jan 25, 2018

Wvreefnewb said:
So if I have one I will probably have others? Was it created in the tank?

Most likely came in on a piece of rock, they start out pretty small.

reeftigergal · Jan 25, 2018

Yip, brittle star, I just went and bought one myself.
Good find. Keep him but he will get BIG.. Had monster ones, harmless but cool to watch at night.
Enjoy.

S.O.MLemos · Jan 26, 2018

+1 on brittle star and you probably have lots more. I always have 50-100 little guys in my refugium but they are smaller than a dime. From my experience the larger brittles have a taste for snails so I only keep my banded serpent. Never heard of either of them bothering corals though