This has been my experience as well. We have two brown/black brittles that
have traversed a couple tank changes with us, and now reside in our 180g
reef. I last measured the largest one about 2 years ago, and it was about
15" from the tip of one leg to the tip of the opposite - no exaggeration.

We've had them both for +/- 7 years, and they have never displayed any
aggression to any tank make, fish, or mobile/sessile invert. Of course, they
do get a chunk of raw seafood from time to time. :-)

Olive green brittles do have a reputation for being somewhat more
aggressive. Note that the term "brittle" and "serpent" star is
interchangeable -- they are all 'Ophiroids". Here is a very good site that
describes these creatures well:

http://home.att.net/~ophiuroid/html/what.html

Chocolate chip starfish (Protoreaster nodosus) are not considered reef
safe - in that they are opportunistic carnivores - they will eat most
anything that can't escape them, including corals,sponges (and probably
anenomes).

~T
http://home.comcast.net/~76fxe


wrote in message
ups.com...

I've always heard the green serpent stars are NOT reef safe. I have a
brown brittle star that has been absolutely fine with my anemones. He
is at least 10 inches across. I've had him for at least 6 months. He
tends to hide most of the time and comes out at feeding times. After
Chip made a play for the anemones he moved on to try to eat the brown
star. Its interesting watching the brittle star "run" around the tank.

I did a quick search for the match to my brown brittle before the
previous post and couldn't find any reference to anything other than
the green serpent star. That is why I posted I was going to head for
the LFS and get a serpent star. When I make the trip Friday I'm going
to try for another brown brittle star. At one time I had about 100
little baby stars crawling in and out of all the cracks in the rocks.
They were awesome to watch. Then I brought home a Green Emperor Goby
and 3 Yellow Tangs. The stars quickly disappeared. I still find a few
hiding in my Fluval canister at cleaning times.

BTW - I would post more scientific names if I new them. I really need
to figure out all I have and keep track of it so I can accurately
describe any issues when they arise.

Wayne Sallee wrote:
There is a green star fish that is often called a brittle
star, and sometimes called a serpent star. It's nature is
like half way between the two. In some ways it's not as
bad as a serpent star, but it is not as good as a brittle
star.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets



George wrote on 12/21/2006 5:18 PM:
"Wayne Sallee" wrote in message
news Get a brittle, not a serpent.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets


Brittle stars will eat anemones as well. At least my green one does,
especially if they aren't doing too well.

George