cuc-brittle or serpent stars?

[Tabasco1]

I am looking at some different cuc packages. One I am looking at includes a brittle OR serpent star. I feel like I have read that one of these two is or can be predatory. Arching up in the rock work and then collapsing on a sleeping fish. Am I remembering correctly? Which should I stay away from or does it depend on which kind?

THANK YOU!

 

[thewackyreefer]

I've had a serpent star for over 3 years now and have never had any issues with it. I would imagine these would be more predatory than brittle stars, but it's never gotten any of my fish.

 

[Tabasco1]

Well, I can let them include it and take a pic and post when I get it and if it doesnt look good and gets a thumbs down I can trade it at the lfs.

 

[swannyson7]

I've heard of Brittle stars being fish eaters, but only the green variety if my memory serves me correctly.

 

[swannyson7]

Here's an excerpt from WWM
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.

 

[fsu1dolfan]

Yeah had a brittle star in the beginning of my tanks inception - Started small and grew to be pretty big...one day i had a couple fish missing without a trace. Decided to get rid of him...so beware Tabasco!

 

[swannyson7]

I've had a red bristle star in my tank that was transferred from my 125. WHen I first got him a couple years ago, he was about 4 inches across. When i moved him into the 180, he was well over a foot and I'm sure he's continued to grow. Never had any problems with missing fish

 

[Wy Renegade]

I have banded serpant stars significantly larger than my hand in two different tanks, never had any issues with either - sure it probably depends on the species. In fact one is so large that students constantly want to ID it as an octopus.

 

[bct15]

I have a banded serpent star and I have had no problems from him (over 2 yrs). I feed him twice a week, he takes the shrimp right out of my hand and carries it into his hole.

 

[Tabasco1]

I have banded serpant stars significantly larger than my hand in two different tanks, never had any issues with either - sure it probably depends on the species. In fact one is so large that students constantly want to ID it as an octopus.

WOW... I didn't know they got so large, I thought they got about 6" ish.

Thanks for all the feedback, I will try to id it when I get it and if it is green... not going in my tank!

 

[greg0385]

green brittles are bad news, or atleast mine was. he had a taste for my fish, too bad he couldn't done me a favor and ate that 3stripe damsel that i couldn't ever catch.

 

[Akwarius]

I've had both brittle and serpents in my display for almost a year. Great for cleaning up all the nooks and crannies under the live rock. They even go after the seaweed clip if I put it too low on the glass.

 

[SeeingGreen]

Had a serpent star that ate my wrasse....

 

[fsu1dolfan]

Personally if i ever go for a star again, i might look into the basket star. They are amazing creatures but i have heard they can be slightly hard to care for.

 

[xmetalfan99]

A friend of mine uses brittle stars in his CuC and loves them except for one thing. His main issue with them is they like to knock his rocks and corals over if they aren't puttied or glued down well. Every so often I get a call from him complaing about it. They don't do it on purpose but it happens.

 

[Akwarius]

Personally if i ever go for a star again, i might look into the basket star. They are amazing creatures but i have heard they can be slightly hard to care for.

Basketstars are filter feeders for the most part, not detritivores like serpents an brittles. Although my old bs would eat rods food out of my forceps.

 

[Akwarius]

They don't do it on purpose but it happens.

This made me laugh. Vindictive little sobs.

 

[Troylee]

I had a green brittle there bad news.... Right now I have a huge purple linkia and a handful of sand sifters with my big yellow cucumber man that thing gets huge when he puffs up but keeps my sand clean pretty well....

 

[Tabasco1]

Troy-I would LOVE a purple linkia! So jealous. Your tank is a 180? Is that right? That size does well keeping him? From what I understand they are pretty ravenous. Don't think I would try in my dinky 45

When I was in Fiji last year they were all over the place. So striking. Also all over the place... crown of thorn starfish. Actually quite striking, but you can see the damage they do. On one dive it was kindof funny, we just hunted the starfish. I am sure the dive master was like... wierd! I love that stuff.

 

[Tabasco1]

Personally if i ever go for a star again, i might look into the basket star. They are amazing creatures but i have heard they can be slightly hard to care for.

They are amazing looking, but very difficult to feed as they are filter feeders. I think somewhere in the neiborhood of difficulty in keeping the non photosynthesis soft corals, maybe not quite that difficult, but you get the idea.

I saw a small tank set up for non photosythetic coral that was amazing. It was not very big, definately less than 50g. It had a special automatic feeding system on it and alot of flow, pretty much constant feed. Very cool. i will try to find it. They had a basket star in that tank.