Do I Need To Be Concerned?

[KarenJax]

Someone posted on my grooming board that serpent stars will attack and eat small fish as they sleep. I have a serpent star. I have small fish! The bratty blenny and 2 clowns. Do I need to pull the star out?

 

[PRC]

I don't personally have a serpent star but I don't think that's accurate. As far as I know, they're just a part of the cleanup crew. If it's dead or dying, they'll take care of the rest. Alot of people on here have serpent stars.

 

[wontonflip]

Maybe the person just thougt their serpent star was eating the fish, when in fact, it was just sitting on a fish that had already died?

 

[AdeptMrSniffles]

My serpent star has never taken a fish. However he's not large enough to take any of my fish. Ive seen some REALLY big ones that if they wanted to munch on a fish it could I'm sure, but I believe them to be most scavengers of the dead and dying.

 

[ErinCahir]

Maybe they were thinking of the green stars.

 

[KarenJax]

Maybe they were thinking of the green stars.

Do the green serpent stars DO that?! :shock: my star is pink sort of. Even my LFS guy who is the bomb never said anything about the star grabbing fish

 

[KarenJax]

I also just want to note that I feed my CUC. They do their jobs well but I DO feed them every other day. My peps will come to the turkey baster and get their serving. I squirt some in the star's lair, he'll grab it and pull it in. My snails get fed too lol

 

[ErinCahir]

I know I've seen posts on here about "green stars of death"... and if I remember correctly Biff had a star in her tank that tried to eat fish. But I don't really remember. I don't have a serpent star so I didn't really pay too much attention. Haha.

 

[ErinCahir]

Here's an old post...

https://www.livingreefs.com/brittle-star-t17545.html

 

[Bifferwine]

The large green brittle stars will go after fish, and they are able to catch them. But smaller serpent or brittle stars are not a danger.

 

[dcantucson]

I have had both kinds before. I believe that the serpent stars are less aggressive but will still eat a fish IF it could catch one. Green brittle stars I have come to find out are much more aggressive and are better hunters. Recently my green brittle ate two cleaner shrimps and a red scooter blenny.

 

[KarenJax]

It's funny. He shares his lair with the 3 peps and Beaker zooms in and out of there. Hmmm.

 

[hazelsdad]

i have a decent piece of rock that has arms that come out of a bunch of different holes. Have determined 1 or a few serpent stars inside. Never seen em come out fully but those arms reach for food when i feed.